The Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department is likely to get around Rs 2 billion for its Annual Development Programme (ADP) in the provincial budget 2008-09 with 60 percent share for the on-going schemes and 40 percent for the new schemes.
Reliable sources in the department told Business Recorder here on Thursday that work was still in progress regarding the allocation for the livestock sector but roughly they would get around Rs 2 billion to continue its efforts for increasing the production of milk and meat in the province.
The sources said that this amount would be spent on 22 schemes (both on-going and new). There would be 10 new schemes to be introduced during the next financial year while 12 are on going schemes.
They said that a new but comprehensive scheme for preservation of 'Cholistani breed of cow' would also be introduced during the next financial year. For the development livestock sector in Cholistan, the government would introduce the methods to preserve the Cholistani Cow breed as well as launch programs for sweet water preservation for animals, their treatment etc.
Other then this milk development programme would also be introduced in the Cholistani area as the framers of that areas were getting only Rs 10 to 12 per liter for their milk while in the big cities milk had been sold up to Rs 40 per liter.
Throwing light on some other schemes to be introduced next fiscal year, the sources stated that the government would introduce a scheme for poor rural women-folk of Barani areas, under which these women would be provided free of cost poultry units. Each woman would get 6 to 7 poultry units and each unit consist of 6 hens and one cock. Under this scheme, the rural women having no other resources would rear these birds and could earn their livelihood by selling the eggs, the sources added.
Under the same scheme, the Punjab government would also provide sheep and goats to the poor framers and rural area women at only 30 percent of the market price as 70 percent of the cost would be paid by the government.
Talking about the allocation of funds into the ongoing schemes, a good amount of funds would be allocated for four major schemes. These schemes are, Camel Breeding and Research Stations in Bhukar, Second, Third and Fourth phases of Support services for livestock framing, Establishment of milk Processing plants in Layyah and Sailkot and enhancement of mutton production through goat breeding.
Support services for livestock framing is a comprehensive scheme of the livestock department of the Punjab government as in the first phase the Punjab government has established veterinary dispensaries at every Union Council level, the sources concluded.