The provincial government is taking steps to promote the livestock sector by offering farmers a supportive environment and better facilities, an official said on Tuesday.
Dr Naila Maqsood, Additional Director Livestock for the Sargodha Region, said Punjab’s livestock sector, including Sargodha’s contribution, has recorded a 43 per cent increase in animal exports. About 400,000 animals are prepared for export each year, and the initiative is expected to generate Rs11 billion in earnings for rural farmers.
Livestock Card Scheme drives the progress
Dr Naila attributed the gains to the Chief Minister’s Punjab Livestock Card Scheme, under which farmers receive Rs27,000 per animal to cover feed and fodder. She said 129,581 animals reared under the scheme had been exported.
The number of rural women livestock farmers registered under the scheme had risen from 90 to 1,107, she added.
Disease zones, processing plants and investment
The government has notified eight Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) compartments and plans to set up seven more this year, including one in Sargodha to facilitate exports to China, Europe and the United States.
It also plans five meat-processing plants, five modern slaughterhouses, meat-packing facilities and commercial feedlots. Rs19 billion in financing subsidies would support integrated investment across the livestock value chain, while private investment of Rs65 billion is expected in the meat sector.
Punjab will also set up its first FMD vaccine production unit under a public-private partnership, involving private investment of Rs28 billion.
District-wise export figures and market links
Giving district-wise figures, she said the following numbers of animals had been exported:
- Lahore: 20,000
- Bahawalpur: 24,297
- Faisalabad: 12,529
- Gujranwala and Gujrat: 21,000
- Multan: 27,000
- Sargodha: 22,000
- Sahiwal: 2,661
Under the Livestock Connect system, the government has established direct links with 1,725 fattening farms, 20 export slaughterhouses, 88 meat exporters and 34 meat traders, she said.
