THE livelihood and food base of people of Tharparkar depends mainly on grazing animals and partially on subsistence agriculture. Agriculture is mainly dependent on monsoonal rains which are erratic and variable in quantity and to a very little extent sweet groundwater is available at a few places.

The current livestock population of Tharparkar district is probably above six million. Most people of the area depend on agro-pastoral economy for their livelihood. Livestock, fully or partially, contributes to the financial system of every household of about 1.5 million people of the district. Thar must be given priority in matters of livestock development.

The authorities should devise a holistic livestock development plan to include introducing cross-dairy farming, taking measures for increasing the livestock health improvement facilities, introducing low-priced livestock feed.

They should further develop local territory lands and range lands to promote grazing areas, discovering markets for profitable trade of livestock and its products, butter, ghee brand and packing should be standardised.

Ali Nawaz Rahimoo
Umerkot