Development of dairy sector can bring 'white revolution' in Pakistan creating lot of job opportunities and helping poverty alleviation. Local, foreign experts and representatives of leading dairy players from public and private sectors observed this addressing a seminar titled `Dairy Farming for Profit' here on February 27.
Dairy Pakistan and government initiative for strategy development and competitiveness (PISDAC) project organised the seminar.
The speakers said that Pakistan is third milk producing country in the world and value of its milk production is higher than combined value of wheat and cotton production.
Anthony Christiansen CEO of Dairy Pakistan said that Pakistan's milk production could be raised from present production of 32 billion litres to 64 billion litres in 10 years through effective strategy and collaboration among stakeholders.
He emphasised upon the need to overcome shortcomings in way of development of dairy sector adding, a number of initiatives are underway to boost this vital sector including milk collection and chilling projects, joint milk pilot projects, research and capacity building.
"We are working on safety standards, dairy sector research work and strategy development by evaluating the significance of the sector in terms of contribution to GDP, employment and importance to serve as vehicle to alleviate poverty specially among the rural population", he said.
Faisal Farooq Chairman Dairy Pakistan highlighted various milk marketing options and discussed the opportunities to improve the dairy sector, close co-ordination with key stakeholder across the dairy value chain as well as with partners from educational institutions, government and private sector.
The other speakers apprised the participants of issues relating to animal health, farm lay-outs and shed designs, employment of skilled farm management, high quality feed and breeding cows with high production capabilities and other related techniques.