PESHAWAR: A modern sheep farm would be established at Jabba area of Mansehra district to provide facilities to the livestock farmers to produce quality wool and enhance mutton production.

This was stated by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Board of Investment and Trade (KP-BoIT) vice-chairman Senator Mohsin Aziz while presiding over a meeting regarding various projects undertaken by the board with relevant provincial government departments.

He claimed that the board had gained milestones and undertaken pragmatic measures for attracting local as well as foreign investment in the province.

Highlighting significance of the sheep farming (wool, mutton production and processing), at Jabba, Mr Aziz said that a modern facility was being provided to the livestock farmers so that they could enhance yield of fine quality wool as well as keep intact the nucleus breed for improving production of the sheep.

He said that a piece of land measuring 300 acres had been identified for investors to establish an international standard sheep farm in the district.

It will enhance and expand sheep farming in the area to meet growing demand of both mutton and wool, says a press release.

The board vice-chairman said that the project had been initiated in collaboration with the provincial directorate of livestock extension.

He said that the proposed land would be leased out to investors for 30 years. He said that the establishment of wool processing facilities (grading and scouring) would produce best quality wool, which could also generate hefty revenue for the livestock farmers.

Mr Azizi said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had offered a large base of organic mutton production, approximately 0.87 million sheep and 4.41million goats.

He said that investors would earn huge revenue through meeting local demand for mutton, particularly by providing animals to the market. He stated that the establishment of the facilities for wool and slaughterhouse would also attract investment, which would generate cash inflows for the investors.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2015

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