Policy Paper
Promoting Livestock to Ensure Food Security in Pakistan
By
Preface
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
1.1 Preamble......................................................................................................................................2
1.2 Statement of Problem:.....................................................................................................................3
1.3 Research Methodology....................................................................................................................4
Situation Analysis........................................................................................................................................5
1.4 National Food Security Policy Govt. of Pakistan.........................................................................5
1.5 Cost Reduction Strategy..............................................................................................................5
1.6 Efficiency Improvement Measures..............................................................................................6
1.7 Cost-Benefit Analysis..................................................................................................................6
1.8 Stakeholders Analysis..................................................................................................................6
1.9 Implementation Plan...................................................................................................................6
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................7
References...................................................................................................................................................7
List of Abbreviations iii
Executivce Summary iv
Introduction
1.1 Preamble
Food security is a fundamental concern for Pakistan, a country heavily dependent on agriculture
as a primary source of livelihood and sustenance for its population. Pakistan faces a growing
challenge in ensuring food security for its population, with a rapidly increasing population,
changing dietary patterns, and environmental constraints Reference.
The national nutrition survey (2018) revealed that 36.9 percent of the population is suffering
from food insecurity. A historical study of the years 2004 to 2016 found the food security
incidence in the country at 30 to 37 percent – 29 to 47 percent in urban and 26 to 32 percent in
the rural areas. A World Food Programmed (WFP) study of 2009 indicated that almost half of
Pakistan’s population was food insecure in 2008. According to the National Nutrition Survey
(2018), around 40 percent of children below five years of age have stunted growth, and 17.7
percent suffered from wastage of food. Nearly one-third of children were found underweight
(28.9 percent). There were 36.9 percent of food-insecure households in the country, of which
18.3 percent faced severe food insecurity (Word Food Program year).
Food security has a great link to livestock as “Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in
an agricultural setting in order to provide labor and produce diversified products for
consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool”. IF we see globally salient
features of livestock including farm animals, with the exception of poultry having cattle as the
largest livestock group among which sheep were the first animals to be domesticated, perhaps as
early as 10,000 BCE. Goats are raised for their milk and its by-products and for meat, hides, and
wool etc., plays a significant role in enhancing the food security situation of Pakistan. Poultry
and livestock are two types of animal farming. The main difference between poultry and
livestock is that Poultry involves the raising of birds, while livestock involves the raising of
mammals like cows, sheep, and goats. Both poultry and livestock produce food and non-food
products (Gerandielle, et al. 2022).
In Pakistan, Livestock having share of 62.68 percent in agriculture and 14.36 percent in GDP,
grew at 3.78 percent compared to 2.25 percent during last year. The livestock sector has emerged
as the largest contributor to agriculture, accounting for approximately 62.68 percent of the
agriculture value added and 14.36 percent of the national GDP during FY2023. Animal
husbandry is a critical economic activity for rural dwellers in Pakistan, with over 8 million rural
families engaged in livestock production and deriving from 35 to 40 percent of their income
from this sector (Economic Survey, 2022-23).
1.2 Statement of Problem:
Pakistan is facing severe food security issues. Pakistan has been ranked 99th out of 126 countries
in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) report released in July 2023-24 million people faced high
levels of acute food insecurity in Pakistan in year 2023. According to FAO food security
condition was worst in 2023 which made Pakistan to lose almost $13 billion, mainly because of
agriculture sector (82 percent) and livestock sector (17 percent) (World Health Organization
Reference and year).
Livestock play an important role in strengthening the economy of Pakistan. Approximately 8.0
million families are involved in livestock production, relying on it for over 40% of their income
Pakistan is earning a reasonable amount of foreign-exchange with the export of livestock and
livestock by-products such as beef, skins, hides, finished leather goods, raw wool, carpets and
footwear. Most importantly milk is considered as "white gold" of Pakistan, because with the right
strategies Pakistan can not only fulfil needs of its population but can also export dairy products
globally. Due to decreasing livestock population, their diseases, increasing antimicrobial
resistance, bad strategies of government Pakistan needs to import milk and dairy products to
fulfil needs of population Reference .
Moreover, there is an important link between food security and livestock. Livestock and their
products are consumed as food, and they are a good source of nutrition. Animal based food is a
major source of proteins and fats for human beings. Animal proteins are essential and
indispensable for the healthy growth of human beings. The livestock sector is an important
source of food for rural communities and especially for small farmers. While the importance of
promoting livestock to ensure food security in Pakistan is widely acknowledged, there is a need
for more comprehensive research to address the issues like controlling antimicrobial resistance,
disease diagnosis and control, availability of good veterinary services, good living conditions etc.
Existing studies often focus on isolated aspects of the problem, but there is the dire need of hour
to focus, and work toward mitigation of these problems to enhance livestock production in order
to maintain food security in Pakistan Reference.
1.3 Research Methodology
While the importance of livestock promotion for Pakistan's food security is widely
acknowledged, more extensive study is required to solve these concerns. Existing studies
frequently focus on individual components of the problem, and there is a dearth of
comprehensive research that considers the linked nature of various difficulties. To overcome
these challenges, and after reviewing several research publications, \the following study
technique elements including the hand on research on; average size of livestock herds that has
continuously increased over recent decades in all developed countries as well as demographics of
farmers and other farm workers. The proportion of farms certified to produce organic animal
products in Pakistan as well as globally, consumers and citizens (influencing processors and
retailers) having long-standing interests in the safety and quality of animal products (Drake,
2007). The adoption of technology on farms is accelerating (Rutten et al., 2013), with profound
implications for how cattle are housed and managed on farms. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
in bacteria is an important public health hazard (Prescott, 2014). Furthermore, human medical
organizations frequently blame livestock industries for increased AMR (e.g., World Health
Organization, 2012; Ontario Medical Association, 2013) and use of routine diagnostic services
for the diagnosis of pathogens that can be potentially detected in the milk (e.g., Gao et al., 2009).
Analysis and Findings
Situation Analysis
Government of Pakistan has taken some major steps in enhancing livestock production and
productivity in Pakistan. Government of Pakistan has started short term and long-term feed
management programs of livestock. Government has also started selective breeding to choose
animals who can produce more milk and more meat. FAO Pakistan has also actively supported
interventions to enhance the livestock sector, focusing on production, health, and management.
FAO Pakistan has extensive expertise in addressing livestock related problems, training livestock
farmers, and solving farmers problems. So, this program will have positive results in livestock,
but government also needs to improve the living condition of livestock farmers and train them on
diseases of livestock and decrease irrational use of antimicrobial drugs for livestock so they can
handle livestock more efficiently (FAO, Pakistan Year).
1.4 National Food Security Policy Govt. of Pakistan
Encourage value added industry for livestock and livestock products with the aim to enter
global Halal food market.
Improved legal framework addressing legislative gaps, standards, grades, monitoring &
enforcement to enhance national and international quality compliance.
National Programs for risk based progressive control of trans-boundary animal diseases of
trade and economic importance including Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Lumpy skin
disease and PPR.
Encourage provinces and private sector for improvement of veterinary health services,
nomads’ movements, disease free zoning and livestock markets.
1.5 Cost Reduction Strategy
The strategies for cost reduction in the dairy products include enhancement of duties on import
of cheaper dry milk powder to protect the local dairy industry. Secondly the price of fresh milk
can be fixed to provide an incentive to dairy producers. Special incentives for the private sector
to invest in dairy production for supplying pure dairy products will reduce the cost of dairy
products and will increase the profit for dairy owners.
1.6 Efficiency Improvement Measures
Livestock now occupy most global agricultural land, and the demand for animal-sourced food
(ASF) is predicted to rise. To address the contribution of livestock to global food supply, we
require a metric of land use efficiency in livestock systems. Increasing the productivity of all
livestock systems via improvements in nutrition, genetics, and husbandry methods is critical to
advancing agrifood systems and leaving no one behind.
1.7 Cost-Benefit Analysis
Livestock illnesses are a major cause of production losses in Pakistan, with FMD being
highlighted as a major contributor due to its effects on milk production, fertility, and the sale of
animals at a lower price.
1.8 Stakeholders Analysis
Stakeholders of livestock include people related to breed improvement, milk
supply chain & value addition of milk, farm management, good practices,
consumer awareness, livestock farmers training, marketing of dairy & livestock
products, medicine & vaccine production. Government must excel in all these
sectors of livestock to gain interest of stakeholders and to enhance livestock
production.
1.9 Implementation Plan
Diversified livestock systems contribute significantly to national economic prosperity. Livestock
and food businesses create prospects for overseas trade by exporting semi-processed and
processed products. Improving domestic agricultural productivity is crucial for ensuring food
security by boosting per-acre yields. Pakistan has significant output potential in agriculture,
livestock, and fisheries. However, long-term development of these sectors is crucial for the
country's economic progress and prosperity. Efficient utilization of industrial resources requires
current technology and a realistic marketing system.
Recommendations and Conclusion
Recommendation
To improve sustainable livestock productivity in Pakistan, the following steps
could be taken: Enhancing the genetic potential of local cattle through selection,
crossbreeding, and artificial insemination (AI). Similarly, improved breed potential
and effective management will lead to increased rates of conception, growth, and
milk yield as well as shorter calving intervals. Urea and molasses treatment can be
used to improve the quality of inferior fodders and straws to fulfill feed
requirements. Development of economical, efficient and flexible housing plans by
experts for livestock can potentially increase livestock productivity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adopting and putting into practice these measures would aid in
addressing the challenges the livestock industry is currently facing and would
encourage its sustainable expansion and development for the benefit of the national
economy. e, rather than boosting livestock numbers, more attention needs to be
placed on raising production per animal. Efficient livestock management, feeding,
housing, preventative measures, disease surveillance, and the creation of an
effective organized marketing system will help to meet more ambitious sustainable
production targets.
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