KARACHI, Aug 8: The Livestock Dairy Development Board under its meat development programme launched in Sindh distributed over Rs16.3 million as grant to 583 farmers to set up model farms in June 2008.

This was stated in a report submitted to the Secretary Livestock and Fisheries by the board’s specialist Mushtaq Hussain Jokhio.

The board works under the federal ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (Minfal) for the development of dairy and meat products in the country.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Sindh livestock and fisheries department, the board has launched a project for development of dairy and meat products in the province.

During July 2008, the board set up 270 model animal farms -- 131 for beef and 140 for mutton. The number of farmers engaged in these farms is 382. The total number of animals being fattened at these farms is 11,580 -- 3,273 for beef and 8,307 for mutton.

Under the meat development project the board will provide financial assistance to farmers at the rate of Rs1,400 per beef animal and Rs400 per mutton animal after the completion of the fattening period.

The project also envisages establishment of modern and scientific slaughter houses and butcheries in the private sector.

The objective of the meat development project is development of feedlot fattening to maximise bio-economic and sustainable meat products and its value addition through meat processing and quality control.

The livestock and fisheries department has embarked upon an ambitious programme to enhance productivity of existing livestock, dairy, poultry, and fisheries resources through the development of new techniques and scientific methods of farming.

The project is not only aimed at promoting import substitution of milk and dairy products but also at exploiting the export potential of livestock, dairy, poultry and fisheries and their products.

The district-wise activities of the meat development programme show that number of animals brought under the network are 34,549. These include 9,720 in Jamshoro, 4,703 in Karachi, 6,005 in Badin, 5,012 in Mirpurkhas, 3,928 in Larkana, and 5,181 in Khairpur.

The number of agreements reached with the progressive farmers to set up model farms under the board’s supervision was 278 in Jamshoro, 162 in Karachi, 205 in Badin, 143 in Mirpurkhas, 210 in Larkana and 256 in Khairpur.

Under the feedlot fattening project small and large farms will be set up throughout the province. There is a plan to set up 30 model farms with 100 to 200 animals each. The farmers willing to join the programme should have 25 acres of land with underground sweet water.

The criteria for farmers to be associated with the project will include, apart from the willingness, having land for construction of shed and the fodder production facility, they should also have the capacity to invest in establishment of farm infrastructure and purchase of animals.