SARGODHA, Nov 04 (APP):Additional Director Livestock, Sargodha Region,Dr.Naila Maqsood on Wednesday said Punjab's livestock sector had recorded a 45 per cent increase in animal exports,with 400,000 animals being prepared for export annually. She said the initiative was expected to generate Rs11 billion in income for rural livestock farmers. Dr.Naila attributed the growth to the Punjab government's Livestock Card Scheme, under which farmers were receiving Rs.27,000 per animal to meet feed …
Livestock sector records 45pc increase in animal exports:official
SARGODHA, Nov 04 (APP):Additional Director Livestock, Sargodha Region,Dr.Naila Maqsood on Wednesday said Punjab’s livestock sector had recorded a 45 per cent increase in animal exports,with 400,000 animals being prepared for export annually.
She said the initiative was expected to generate Rs11 billion in income for rural livestock farmers.
Dr.Naila attributed the growth to the Punjab government’s Livestock Card Scheme, under which farmers were receiving Rs.27,000 per animal to meet feed and fodder expenses.
She said 129,581 animals raised under the scheme had been exported.
She added that Punjab had notified eight Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) compartments and planned to establish seven more during the current year,including one in Sargodha, to facilitate exports to China, Europe and the United States.
The government also planned to establish five meat-processing plants and five modern slaughterhouses,besides developing meat-packing facilities and commercial and corporate feedlots, she said.
Dr.Naila said Rs.19 billion in financing subsidies would be provided for integrated investments across the livestock value chain,while private investment of Rs.65 billion was expected in the meat sector.
She further said Punjab would establish its first FMD vaccine production unit under a public-private partnership, involving private investment of Rs28 billion.
Giving district-wise export figures, she said 20,000 animals had been exported from Lahore, 24,297 from Bahawalpur, 12,529 from Faisalabad, 21,000 from Gujranwala and Gujrat, 27,000 from Multan, 22,000 from Sargodha and 2,661 from Sahiwal.
Under the Livestock Connect system, the government had established links with 1,725 fattening farms, 20 export slaughterhouses, 88 meat exporters and 34 meat traders, she added.
The additional director said the number of rural women livestock farmers registered under the Livestock Card Scheme had increased from 90 to 1,107.
