KARACHI, Sept 13 The inexplicable delay on part of the federal government to impose a ban on the export of livestock and meat and initiate steps to halt smuggling of cattle means public interests are being compromised, which could trigger a crisis of meat and dairy products across the country in the coming months, experts told Dawn.

Millions of poor families that had survived the floods, they said, were facing a challenge as large numbers of their animals had either perished or faced a serious risk of death and disease. The floods have also affected animal productivity.

Apart from providing an emergency and rehabilitation support to livestock, the government must take measures to stop the rampant smuggling of livestock and ban the export of farm animals and meat to stem the bad situation from worsening, they said.

According to a statement of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) issued last month, the floods have affected the most densely populated livestock areas in Pakistan and millions of surviving animals are now facing severe feed shortages.

The FAO has put the initial livestock loss at about 200,000, fearing that the final figures would be much higher. Every animal saved was a productive asset that poor families could use to rebuild their lives when the floods finally pass, it said.

According to media reports, the initial total livestock losses in the provinces are estimated to be around 500,000 animals.

The contribution of livestock in the overall agriculture output is 51.8 per cent and in the gross domestic product it is 21.8 per cent.

Losses in Sindh

Speaking to Dawn, a government livestock official said that it was difficult to ascertain the exact loss in figures as the satellite imagery only showed the devastation of concrete infrastructures before and after the floods.

However, it was estimated that about 100,000 big animals and 88,000 small ones had been lost in the floods in the province, he said.

“We calculated these figures after taking into account the past estimated population of livestock between the two embankments and, then, considered the history of flooding; whether any flood warning was issued or there was a forced evacuation,” he said.

“We believe that the maximum loss of animals is not more than two per cent in any flood-hit district. But this two per cent loss is not a small figure, it's a huge loss.”

Livestock had been hit by the floods and lost in all districts, including Dadu, Kashmore, Sukkur, Khairpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Larkana, Jacobabad and Thatta. Many people, though, had been able to save their animals, he added.

Regarding the much-demanded ban on livestock exports and meat, he said the federal government had been requested about it but no response received.

“These measures are important, but smuggling poses a much bigger threat to the livestock sector. Animals are being smuggled daily to Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics on a large scale,” he admitted.

Smuggling, he believed, could be plugged by making the border checks efficient rather than imposing any restriction on inter-provincial movements of animals.

About the challenges in the coming months, he said the animals were under stress and suffering from malnutrition, which would affect their productivity. “The situation may create shortages of meat and dairy products.”

Regarding government efforts, he said that 149 camps had been set up across the province to feed, treat and vaccinate animals against major diseases and there had been no outbreak of any diseases so far.

“The second stage of rehabilitation would be the most critical when animals would start returning to villages once the floodwaters recede. At that time, they would be highly susceptible to disease and the non-availability of food could pose a problem. These issues are being looked into and the government is in the process of preparing a support package.”

Ban on livestock exports

Suggesting measures to support livestock, Prof Dr Manzoor Ahmed, former vice-chancellor and the founding chairman of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, said there should be a complete ban on livestock export.

“Besides, the government must make arrangements to supply feed and fodder and to vaccinate animals in flood-affected villages,” he said.

Seconding his recommendations, Dr Jaimal Dhanani, representing the Thar Animal Development Foundation, said the government should also provide soft loans for at least one year to help improve animal health and production.