HYDERABAD: Speakers at a seminar that marked the beginning of the two-day Sindh Livestock Expo 2020 on Saturday stressed the need for tapping into Sindh’s potential in livestock and dairy sector by introducing latest technology to this field.

Sindh Minister for Livestock Abdul Bari Pitafi said at the expo, which was organised by Sindh livestock and fisheries department in collaboration with departments of culture, tourism and antiquities, agriculture and prices bureau, sports and youth affairs and Hyderabad commissioner, that the main purpose of the exhibition was to provide an opportunity to traditional livestock owners to turn their animals into market-oriented farm cattle.

He said that Sindh had enough potential in this sector. Sindh government was devising a new policy to propose development of livestock sector and this expo would prove to be a big step in that direction, he said.

He said that Sindh government would promote livestock not only for ensuring food security but also for improving value addition across the value chain including modern warehouses, shrimp farming along coastal belt and cold storage facilities at farm level.

Sindh Livestock Expo 2020 gets under way

He said the exhibition would bring the government and investors onto a single platform for working in a collaborative manner and help increase exports. In addition, this expo would also help promote entrepreneurship in livestock and transfer of related technologies, he said.

He asked farmers to participate in this expo in big numbers as all 17 services provided by the department including vaccination were free at the expo. There were seven million animals in Thar and 1,622,000 people; if Tharis consumed milk and meat of their own animals, there would no longer be any issue of malnutrition, he said.

Pakistan Peoples Party women wing president MPA Faryal Talpur said that the expo would help livestock industry grow and give an opportunity to traditional livestock owners to turn their animals into market-oriented farm cattle. “Sindh government is committed to take all measures to tap into potential for growth in this sector and create jobs for people,” she said.

She said at the seminar after inaugurating the expo that it would benefit all those who sought information about livestock, including breeding, genetics and genomics, disease control and product development.

She said that Sindh had enough potential in livestock and dairy. As a farmer and breeder herself, she knew well how important it was to inform farmers about animal breeding, marketing of animals and their meat.

She stressed the need for introducing new technology to this sector and urged the minister for livestock to update her on five-year plan of the government regarding livestock.

Punjab Minister for Livestock Sardar Hasnain Bahadur lauded organisation of the exhibition and described it as a major event of livestock in Sindh. He appreciated Sindh government’s efforts and thanked his counterpart for inviting him to the event, which would certainly promote livestock industry in the country.

Local and international experts made presentations at the seminar to create awareness among the participants about modern breeding techniques. About 1,500 animals including several breeds of cows, buffaloes, camels, goats, horses, birds and other mammals were being displayed at the expo.

Secretary for livestock Aijaz Ahmed Mahesar, consuls general of Thailand and Indonesia, Hyderabad commissioner, PPP leaders Shagufta Jumani, Jam Khan Shoro, and officers of livestock and fisheries department attended the seminar.

Hundreds of visitors including children enjoyed watching animal cavalcade, camel and horse dance, musical and cultural shows, fireworks, band display and PT show, which also featured at the exhibition.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2020