Concept Paper on Livestock Business Development in Punjab, Pakistan Dr. Muhammad Rasheed, 03336901401, muhammadrasheed2352@gmail.com

Background:

Each developing and developed country is mainly focusing on bilateral trade to strengthen its economy with more reserves of foreign exchange. In Pakistan the agriculture sector is contributing its role by strengthening the rural and national economy. Livestock & Dairy sector is main segment of Agriculture and is playing a key role in providing major sources of balance food / diets in shape of milk, meat and eggs to the consumers. These food items are vital for human health and nourishment and can be exported to other countries with adaptation and implementation of international accepted standards / certification. In Pakistan, tremendous increase in the demand of milk, meat products and other foods of animal has sensitized the policy makers to create an agency responsible for implementation of standards for certification under HACCP, Global GAP, and CODEX etc necessary for trade. The introduction of Halal Meat concept in the world has further pushed the investments in this sector to fetch the export markets of the word particularly the Muslim Nations (Iran, Turkey, Middle East, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Untapped Areas:

Milk and Meat products / bye products are the main source of protein for human population and its consumption is increasing tremendously with food safety concerns. The key elements to enable the export of milk and meat products to foreign countries include that exporting countries must have a competent veterinary authority (Milk & Meat Safety Agency) empowered, structured and resourced to implement effective inspection and guarantee credible certification of the relevant veterinary and general hygiene conditions.

The creation of milk and meat safety agency in Punjab (Pakistan) will be based on traceability (tagging) of animals, animal health and nutrition, authorization and certification of laboratories, creation of regulations and risk assessment. This agency will work on the pattern of HACCP principles which will enable certification of our meat and dairy products to be accepted by the domestic and international markets to avoid unnecessary restrictions imposed by various district administrations. This will provide an opportunity for the Punjab Government to improve the health status of human population and local economy. This agency will also create a high standard for Pakistani meat that is recognized by all the exporting countries.

Followings will be the main steps for Farm to Fork compliance regime to comply with the international standards for trading of Milk and Meat products. Technical and financial support from developed countries will certainly facilitate Pakistan to develop such agency with internationally accepted certification system. Creation of agency need following steps and interventions

i. Creation of a competent Veterinary Authority:

ii. Development of Animal Traceability System:

iii. Establishment and Functionality of Animal Health Surveillance System:

iv. Development of Disease Free Zoning and Compartmentalization:

Accreditation of identified Laboratories:

v. Formulation of Legal Framework with its enforcement system:

Support and Coordination Needed:

Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Government of the Punjab has initiated to formulate standard for animal products like milk, meat & eggs in the light of HACCP, Global GAP, Halal, Codex, and IFS by establishing proposed Milk and Meat Safety Agency.

The concept need technical and financial support from international organizations to step forwards on the pathway defined by the international standards and certification agencies.

Support is needed to make workable strategy for getting their quality insurance certification from concerned International/National authority and to formulate legal framework covering all the aspects of international standards and certification.

Support is needed to develop a database for record keeping of all food chain i.e farm to fork with effective animal disease surveillance system with increased capacities through trainings at provincial, district and field level.

Support is needed to implement SOPs at identified laboratories with accreditation by international organizations by conducting prescribed trainings for deputed staff.

Other Areas:

Capacity Building and infrastructure development on Breed Improvement intervention to increase per animal production (Milk and Meat) through Artificial Insemination techniques.

Genetic Improvement of local breeds of animals through import of high pedigree bull semen especially beef breed.

Up gradation of existing structure of training institutes with IT facilities. Development of livestock business centers at district level having interventions

on milk and meat products / bye products covering ostrich farming and others. The products / bye products may be chosen / managed with availability of raw material in that particular district.

Training Network Development (TND) to maximize the capacities of Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab having affiliation with international institutes