Secretary Livestock Irfan Elahi with UAF VC Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan in a discussion with participating animal farmers at UAF Goat Show

Livestock is increasingly becoming an important sector of national economy, contributing even more than all the other agricultural crops combined with 53% share in the agriculture sector. The government is promoting and supporting the breeding programs of indigenous cattle thereby to enhance the productivity and to meet the growing export challenges. This was stated by secretary livestock Mr. Irfan Elahi while inaugurating the national goat show at University of Agriculture Faisalabad on Saturday afternoon. He said owing to governmental encouragement in the livestock production, and addressing the marketing issues, now Iran and neighboring countries had approved our meat exports so if we enhance our production, we can grab the export market of trillion of rupees. The Secretary said government is providing numerous facilities to private sector invest in livestock and help the public sector in promoting the animal production in more pragmatic way. He said Livestock & Dairy Development Department strives to ensure growth and development of livestock sector in the province thus contributing to national food security, economic uplift, rural development, poverty alleviation, employment generation and foreign exchange earnings. He felicitated the UAF management for holding a magnificent event of showcasing the indigenous breed so that the animal farmers involve in the production can get true benefit of their produces. Mr. Irfan Elahi said government is vigorously working on poverty alleviation by supporting the livestock subsistence farmers & women, productivity enhancement through improved genetics, balanced nutrition & careful husbandry, better functioning markets and regulatory regime, private enterprise development to optimally realize potential of livestock assets and provision of quality products (dairy & meat) for domestic consumers & export market. The government is executing projects of productivity enhancement in 12 districts of the province to alleviate the poverty in the rural areas. He said his department has registered more than 50,000 animals to raise the productivity and meet the export potentials. Mr. Irfan Elahi said government is providing animals to the farmers and in exchange getting their kids for further promoting the production to other people. Earlier, UAF VC Prof. Dr. Iqrar Ahmad Khan (SI) said the goat show is 2nd of its kind during the last two year adding that UAF setting new milestones of success by holding two festivals in a year. He said, a farmer has to nourish cattle by taking care for a long time and deserves due encouragement in the form of providing better marketing opportunities. He said UAF is providing an opportunity to the farmers involve in animal production to sell their sacrificial animals in the heart of the city and at the same time to open a window to the local buyers under one umbrella so that they can purchase sacrificial animals on competitive and affordable rates. He said UAF has a tradition of organizing such shows as a teaching tool for training young people in animal agriculture. He said competitions of animal beauty, milk and weight play important role in the development of breeds and serve as a yardstick for fellow breeders to develop their breeds. Earlier a cavalcade was organized among Beetal Faisalabadi, Beetal Makhi Cheeni, Betal Nuqri, Beetal Gujrati/Nagri and others, Barbari, Nachi and Teddy, and Deera Din Panah was organized. Besides weight and beauty competition, a milk competition among all the participating 38 breeds was also held and a real crowed puller of the event.