Speakers have urged the government departments, research institutions and private sector organisations to take special measures for protection of rangelands as their reduction will lead to livestock feed deficiency. Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, was of the view that because of overgrasing, huge cutting of trees, soil erosion, climate change and mismanagement the country's rangelands are reducing with each passing day.
He said that policymakers, government departments, research institutions, private sector organisations and local community need to initiate key developmental activities for the rehabilitation of remaining rangelands.
The minister said this while addressing a symposium on 'Rangeland Resources of Pakistan' organised by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the UN and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) on Wednesday.
The minister also urged the government to formulate a proper rangeland policy both at national and provincial levels for effective management of rangelands resources of Pakistan.
He said that rangelands occupy 52.2 million hectares of Pakistan, which is around 60 per cent of the geographical area of the country. The rangelands support millions of livestock heads across the county that contributes to food security, nutrition and livelihood of the poor and vulnerable people in the rural areas through its various activities and services, he maintained.
Bosan said that the livestock sector has emerged as a leading sub-sector of agriculture over the years as it contributes about 12 per cent to the national GDP. Livestock production employs about 35 million people in rural areas who derive around 40% of their income from the sector, he said.
He also stressed for launching an effective awareness campaign for livestock rearing families to inculcate awareness among them about the significance of rangelands and their management. During the drive people connected with livestock production should be educated to be more cautious about the quality of the livestock rather than the livestock heads, he said.
Patrick Evans, FAO Representative in Pakistan, said that Pakistan has more than 165 million heads of livestock and reduction in rangelands will lead to livestock feed deficiency. The FAO was working closely with Ministry of National Food Security to chalk out a roadmap for judicious management of this important resource in integrated and comprehensive manner, he said. Chairman Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), Dr Iftikhar Ahmad said that rangelands also provide fuel, building material, medicinal plants and habitat for wildlife. Rangelands also serve as watersheds for river Indus and its tributaries that drain into Tarbela and Mangla dams.
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