The share of livestock in agricultural GDP has increased from around 52 per cent to 60.5pc, according to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2018-19. The gross value addition of livestock has increased 4pc from Rs1.384 trillion in 2017-18 to Rs1.440tr in 2018-19. Therefore, livestock’s share in the overall GDP is 11.2pc.

The livestock sector in Sindh is struggling to achieve the desired growth in milk yield and save Kundi buffaloes by curbing the slaughter of calves. Sindh’s milk production is 16.8 billion litres out of Pakistan’s 59.759bn litres, estimates a livestock department technical official. He believes that this number can be increased substantially if input costs are reduced. The country’s livestock population was about 201.9 million in 2019 whereas Sindh’s livestock population is around 41.767m as per the last census figure in 2006.

Out of the total milk production, 62pc (16.8bn litres) comes from cattle and buffalo and the rest from other sources. A hefty 80pc of Sindh’s total milk production comes from rural areas, 15pc from peri-urban and 5pc from urban areas.

Marketing is a major irritant that is hampering growth in the sector. Since milk is perishable, it is estimated that 30-40pc is lost due to the farmers’ lack of milk-holding and preservation capacity. Thus, it is sold at lower rates in the neighbourhood or to middlemen who then earn more than the milk producers.

A strong value chain could help ensure better returns to rural areas’ livestock farmers. “If we start focusing on value addition we can have better income prospects from milk-based commodities such as cheese and butter that have a longer shelf life.

But farmers will need training for this as well as linkages with the cooperate sector,” said Dr Abdul Manan Khokhar, a veterinary officer in Sindh’s livestock department.

The average yield of Sindh’s Kundi buffalo is around 4.5 litres which is less than Punjab’s Neeli Ravi buffaloes. However, the latter’s feed requirements are higher than the former. Since Kundi buffaloes have on record produced 34 litres, the Sindh livestock department is focusing on their genetic improvement plan.

Feed expense accounts for 75pc of the input cost which is why farmer’s don’t opt for the more expensive formula feed that can increase milk yields, explains Dr Khokhar. “Formula feed ensures proper nourishment in animals. Inadequate nutrition weakens them and compromises their milk yields,” he says.

Around four years ago, the Sindh government approved the Sindh Breeding Policy and the Sindh Breeding Authority was established. The authority formed an association of breeders and ensures registration of all artificial insemination practitioners.

“The practitioners have been strictly directed to induce pure or descriptive breed’s semen in the descriptive breed and exotic semen is to be induced only in non-descriptive breeds.

This will help us ensure proper selection and low producing breeds will be culled automatically in the process,” said an official.

Unavailability of pure fodder remains a problem and livestock farmers use the residue of crops as fodder for animals. Pure fodder availability is about 12pc or less.

An estimated 0.6m calves are slaughtered in Karachi per annum which is a direct threat to the breeding of Kundi buffaloes. Therefore, the Sindh government is collaborating with the Japanese government since 2014 under the Rs1.065bn Sustainable Livestock Development for Rural Sindh project.

The project aims to increase Kundi buffaloes’ milk production. With training, better livestock management techniques and use of formula feed, one of the pilot farmers in Pahlaj Rai, Hyderabad district, is now being able to milk 8.6 litres instead of 4.2 litres.

Calves bought from cattle colonies are kept for 90 days in the calf salvation centre (CRC) established by the livestock department directorate for proper feeding at different stages. Two calves are handed over to pre-selected pilot farmers after the completion of the 90-day period.

“Previously, the mortality rate for calves was 40-50pc but the CRC has improved these numbers significantly,” said a project official. After three years of proper care, a farmer can pay the livestock department for one of them and keep both animals or sell them to a fellow farmer, he explained. “We evaluate health and other parameters, focusing particularly on feed and care,” he added.

Around 5,000 farmers — both male and female — have been trained under the project against a target of 3,000, according to an official of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) who coordinates with the Sindh livestock department. The JICA has borne 80pc of the cost of the project (Rs838m) and the Sindh government has borne the rest of it (Rs227.061m). As part of the project, the capacity of veterinary officers has been increased.

Since the project ends in June 2020, the government of Japan wants the Sindh government to undertake it single-handedly to ensure its sustainable growth. JICA wants budgetary allocations to be made under the government’s annual development programme for the continuity of the project and to replicate it on a larger scale across the province.

JICA is willing to send technical experts periodically to assist provincial livestock officers. The Sindh government is said to have prepared an action plan spanning three years for the continuation of this intervention. Farmers and project officials are optimistic about the government’s plans.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, March 16th, 2020