Livestock

Livestock plays an important role in Pakistan's economy, and contributes about 9.3 per cent to the GDP of the country and it contributes 52 per cent in the GDP of the province, Balochistan. Its share in agriculture is 38.4 per cent while it's net foreign exchange earnings at Rs. 51.5 billion in 2001-02 accounted for 11.4 per cent of the overall export earnings. The northern range lands are considered better in grazing, because of better average rainfall. They constitute 38 per cent of the total area but carry about 76 per cent of the total livestock in the province. The rest 62 per cent area sustains about 24 per cent of the livestock.

Of Balochistan's total area of 34.8 million hectors, only 4 per cent is cultivated. The remaining is range land which provides more than 90 per cent of the feed requirements of sheep and goats.

The climate of the province, being arid, is suited to sheep and goats. Numbering about 20 million, 46 per cent sheep and 23 per cent goats of the total number in the country are in Balochistan. The migratory livestock constitutes about 90 per cent of the livestock population, moving from uplands to lowlands in winter and going back in summer.

BRSP's priorities in the livestock sector

1. Provision of livestock preventive and curative services at the door steps of farmers;
2. Poverty alleviation through livestock sector;
3. To increase production of Meat and Milk;
4. To improve livestock Marketing system;
5. To develop linkages between farmers and line departments;

Strategy

BRSP's current interventions in the livestock sector

BRSP is implementing a federal govt. project "Prime Minister Special Initiatives for Livestock" in five districts of Balochistan i.e Zhob, Killa Saif ullah ,Pishin, Kalat and Mastung. Through this project, BRSP has established 42 veterinary clinics in the mentioned five districts which are providing preventive and curative services to the livestock farmers i.e. vaccination, de-worming, dipping and treatment.

Objectives of the Prime Minister's Livestock project

1. Enhanced productivity through development of new technologies ,scientific methods of farming and improved management practices.
2. Exploit export potential.
3. Promote import substitution of milk and Dairy products.
4. Ensure availability of credit.
5. Improve livestock marketing infrastructure;
6. Poverty Alleviation;

Future plans

• Initiate artificial insemination component;
• Embryo Transfer component;
• Rural poultry development;
• Demonstration Lamb fattening;
• Calf Fattening (purchase from livestock department on subsidized rates)
• Introduce Breed improvement programme;