More milk

THE federal government has put Rs 3.5 billion into poverty alleviation in the rural areas to construct 400 model farms in all four provinces to increase milk production and facilitate those associated with dairy farming. This was disclosed by Federal Livestock and Dairy Development Minister Mir Humayun Aziz Kurd while addressing a press conference in Lahore on Saturday. He said that under the project, for which Rs 400 million had already been released, the government would locate villages where there were 400 milk-producing animals, and establish model farms there, equipping each with a chiller tank, and transport facilities, while animals would be given a special feed to increase production, and producers would be given assistance in marketing. This is a step in the right direction, and recognises that the country is among the biggest producers of milk in the world.
However, the truly innovative part of the strategy is the 'Halal Food' certification programme, at a cost of Rs 1.5 billion. As expected, it would help boost the meat exports from the country and thus earn valuable foreign exchange. The trend of using halal meat is increasing worldwide, and getting in on this trend would help the Pakistani livestock industry, for high milk production automatically means meat production. Mr Kurd also disclosed that a Punjab government camel-breeding project was also underway, while the federal government was putting Rs 1.5 billion into this.
While all these measures are welcome, not just for breeders in search of a market, but for the country as a whole, there is also a need for the Ministry to look at the local market, where the non-milk producing population, which forms the majority, does not get milk of sufficient standards. Also, though starting new projects is a good thing, there must be some accounting of all the old projects in this area. Being one of the world's top milk producers does not matter unless the population's genuine dairy needs are met, and the milk then also earns appropriate revenue.