Sindh wants to improve productivity, develop market access

KARACHI: Minister Livestock and Fisheries Engr Abdul Bari Patafi has said that Sindh government is keen to improve the productivity and develop market access to develop dairy value chain activity to improve economic status of small and medium livestock farmers and also working to strengthening public sector institutions to enhance the enabling environment for sustained sectorial growth.

This he said while reviewing the Sindh Agriculture Growth project-Livestock assisted by World Bank implemented through Livestock & Fisheries Department Government of Sindh. He informed that through this project 153 milk potential villages are identified and communities have been organized into 153 milk producer groups (MPGs) in 10 project targeted districts, where out of 153 MPGs, 104 MPGs have been facilitated with newly constructed chiller rooms and milk chillers along with allied equipment, besides that more 49 chiller rooms are in bidding process. So that the small and the medium livestock farmers got the opportunity to sell milk at optimum price due to bulk volume of collected milk at one place and also develop market linkage which minimized the transportation expenses. With the help of these chillers now milk is being collected hygienically, tested electronically and paid as per quality. Due to electronic milk testing adulteration trend of milk is now reduced.

Abdul Bari Patafi has further informed that due to capacity building of farmers and extensive animal health service (M&E report 2019), animal milk production increased up-to 28.4%. Through this project animal health services are been provided to more than 4 lakh 50 thousand animals in project targeted villages. The beneficiaries of this project intervention are approximately 20,000 in which more than 8,000 females and more than 11,700 males are included.

The national and international exposure visits would have also been conducted through this program to witness the modern farming and silage making practices. The participants of visits also witnessed the competitive models their operation, government inputs, success stories and facilities were availing as a part of cooperative.

Trainings on the topic of animal feeds and fodders, animal health management and animal reproduction, breeding and genetic improvement have been provided to more than 5700 farmers and more than 200 extension services has been delivered to the field staff in 10 project target districts. Moreover, 23 workshops, 3 international exposure visits, 2 seminar and symposium, more than 500 artificial inseminations trainees and 20 ultrasound and X-ray trainees have been produced under the project.

Through this project Woman Awareness sessions has been conducted in which lady Livestock Supervisors of Project have delivered awareness session about modern husbandry practices, disease management, farm level mastitis testing, farm disinfection and nutritional formulations to more the 3200 Females.

The Tharparkar District usually face drought due to low rainfall in monsoon. The scarcity of drinking water for animals affects the milk production. Therefore, solar operated water pumps have been installed at two pilot MPGs. Currently about 1100 large and 10,000 small animals are drinking water from project provided facility as well as human population use water for drinking. The frequent watering to animals has remarkable impact on milk production.

The two solar operated water pumps for irrigation have been installed on pilot basis at Mithrio Soomra for cultivation of fodder crops to feed animals in drought season. This step is taken on pilot basis and will be replicate in future. This intervention is especially for Tharparkar to avoid migration of animals during off rain season. Through this project, feasibility study on Holistic Land and Livestock Management (HLLM) had been conducted under the project for Tharparkar and Thatta Districts to convert barren lands in to Gaochar areas, which is being approved by Sindh Government and it is in process of funding.

The Agriculture Policy has been developed under project and is approved by Sindh Assembly and it is under implementation by the Department.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020