KARACHI, May 24: The Sindh livestock and fisheries department has invited commercial companies to set up a collection and marketing network in interior of the province to purchase meat and milk from farmers at reasonable prices and market the same in cities.

A senior official of the department told Dawn on Friday that several companies had shown interest in the project and negotiations with Engro Pakistan were in an advanced stage which would submit an action plan shortly.

He said that network for collection of milk had been successfully operating in Punjab villages ensuring a fair price of milk to livestock farmers, resulting in prosperity in the area.

The official said that the department had also planned lucrative incentives for development of livestock in the interior of the province which included provision of land, animals and free feed to help farmers start their own farms.

Womenfolk are the main focus of the plan as they play a major role in breeding and raring of animals.

He said that cash incentives would be provided to persuade farmers to not slaughter their dry animals as well as calves for fear of expenses on feed.

Cash would be provided to such farmers to arrange feed for animals which they plan to slaughter.

Mobile camps would be set up at major regular goat markets by the department where farmers would be provided guidance on breeding and artificial insemination of animals. Animals would also be vaccinated at such camps.

The department has requested the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock and various farm research institutes to give special focus to development of livestock in Sindh.

The Zarai Taraqiati Bank has been requested to provide financing to farmers to establish and expand their livestock farms.

Funding from the Asian Development Bank is also being sought for development of livestock in the province.

The plan is aimed at developing livestock resources as alternative sources of food which could help in meeting the present food shortage in the country.

According to a rough estimates, livestock and fisheries contributes 50 per cent to total food needs of the country.

In the past in the mad rush for developing cash crops, the livestock sector was ignored but the present government has realised the importance of development of livestock, which does not need a major investment or infrastructure as land, culture and environment for raring animals already exist in villages.

The department has started a training programme to educate youth in rural areas on veterinary sciences.

According to a livestock census carried out in 2006, the number of various animals in the province was 32.1 million against 25.5 million in 1996.