LAHORE: Lahore metropolitan city may soon have a web-based virtual platform (Android, iOS applications) for livestock sale and purchase, as a proposal has been submitted to the Punjab government in this regard.

The project proposal floated by the Lahore Division Cattle Market Management Company, is aimed at creating ease of doing cattle business for livestock stakeholders through digitisation across Pakistan.

Moreover, it will also facilitate buyers and sellers after they strike a deal of sacrificial animals, claims senior LDCMMC’s official.

“In phase-1 of the project, we will provide a platform to both buyers and sellers of goats, cows etc. They will be required to register themselves on the proposed website (www.lhrcattleemarketing.punjab.gov.pk) through which they can buy and sell cattle,” LDCMMC’s officiating managing director Muhammad Sarfraz Arshad told Dawn on Saturday.

“In phase-2, we will introduce a franchise system across the country that will not only facilitate cattle business, but also be responsible for certification of sold/purchased animals health and age,” he added.

According to the proposal, the company through the online platform envisages digitization of cattle markets, national outreach to the cattle farmers, registration/auction of pedigree breeds, certification of the animals being sold, integration of all stakeholders (farmers, butchers, veterinarians, nutritionists, pharmaceutical experts, traders, exporters, investors, transporters, suppliers and consumers), creating awareness among the stakeholders about best international practices through video lectures/articles, identifying new revenue sources linked with the project, E-tagging of animals for traceability purpose and saving time and cost for traders and farmer.

“The sailent features of the project’s phase-1 will include registration of the stakeholders with geo-mapping, sale of livestock in a more competitive environment through Cattle eMarketing Project involving interested buyers, farm owners, individual sellers, butchers and exporters from all over the country,” he said.

The project also envisages mandatory requirement of account opening for the stakeholders, posting free ad for their livestock with pictures and videos, paid featured ads for more visibility and response, comparison between species, review and ratings for registered stakeholders, pre-feasibility studies from layman’s perspective for establishing a business, publishing articles and airing video lectures about the latest trends in cattle farming, nutrition, transportation, linking all the stakeholders and real time counter of sold animals and business volume on the home page through this online platform, the proposal reads.

The second phase will also include veterinary inspection/certification of the animals being sold (this will be a paid feature and substantially enhance value of the animal through cattle affiliates/franchisers and a revenue generation plan.

Through the proposed platform the people will be able to advertise their animals and accessories, animal feed and veterinary medicine, the MD said, adding that the users would have to give information including their name, address, CNIC, mobile number, description and price, he said.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2020