Consultation session begins at UVAS: 'growth of livestock sector declines after 18th Amendment'

Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research Seerat Asghar while addressing the inaugural session of a two-day "National Consultation on Livestock Development in Pakistan - Way Forward" organised by the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore in collaboration with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Islamabad here on Tuesday said that after the 18th amendment, growth of the livestock sector has declined instead of going up.
He also said the infrastructure development is important but government should focus on developing the agriculture and livestock sector because growth in these sectors will be helpful in eradication of poverty. Dean Faculty of Biosciences Professor Dr Habib-ur-Rehman, Dr Qurban Ali, Animal Husbandry Commissioner NFS&R, Islamabad and provincial livestock secretaries, stakeholders and experts were present on the occasion.
Seerat said that provinces should focus on development of agriculture and livestock sector because after devolution these are provincial subjects. He also said livestock is a rapidly growing sub-sector of agriculture and it can play a more vibrant role in economic development, employment generation and socio-economic stability of rural areas provided a level-playing field is available to its stakeholders.
"The government is taking various steps for the development of livestock sector and sought co-operation from stakeholders to make the sector perform to its maximum potential during the coming years," Seerat added. He said that the national consultation is aimed at to formulate doable policies and create enabling environment for the development of livestock sector.
He said that the growth in population, urbanisation, increase in per capita income and export opportunities are increasing the demand for livestock and livestock products. However development of livestock is constrained by low productivity per animal, prevalence of livestock diseases, poor animal husbandry practices in terms of livestock management, nutrition and animal health.