Aussies boost Pakistan's farms: Science Alert

Despite operating in a volatile part of the world, a Charles Sturt University (CSU) led project to drive efficiencies in Pakistan’s dairy industry has achieved results and has been re-funded for a further four years.

Results from an ongoing longitudinal study of the Australian government-funded Improving Dairy Production in Pakistan Through Improved Extension Services demonstrate the project is having a real impact on the ground, according to Pakistani-based coordinator Mr David McGill.

“Around 40 per cent of the farmers we’re working with have taken positive action that’s come about due to our project’s initiatives. Examples include a farmer providing their animals with free access to water by untying the animals, or increasing the feed available to the animal,” he said.

“These may seem like small and minor changes but they can lead to real increases in milk production and reduce the amount of labour required to feed and water the animals each day. This means that the farmers can use the time saved for other tasks like improving crop yields, or it may free time for children to attend school.”

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Pakistan may become leading dairy producer by 2020: The News

KARACHI: Pakistan, having a vast potential in dairy production, is gaining momentum to emerge as an important player in the sector and lead the world by 2020.

Engro Foods Pakistan Chairman Asad Umer stated this while speaking on “The Dairy Business” at a forum organised by the Food Association of Pakistan the other day.

Asad said Engro Foods was projected to be the biggest business of Engro Company in the next five years.

Commenting on the challenges faced by the local dairy sector, he said existing knowledge gap, scattered animal holdings, poor milk collection infrastructure and legal framework on land availability were some of the main hurdles in the way of developing dairy farming in the country.

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Increased productivity needed to cut cost of milk: The News

By Mansoor Ahmad

LAHORE: Pakistan obtains 33 million tonnes of milk from 20 million milking animals, compared with over 37 million tonnes obtained by China from 15 million animals and 84 million tonnes milk produced in the United States by 9.1 million cows.

Pakistan is the fourth largest producer of milk in the world after India, United States and China. The productivity of milking animals in Pakistan is, however, very low compared with the European, United States or Chinese breeds.

Dairy experts point out that both India and Pakistan are increasing their productivity by increasing the number of milking animals instead of increasing yield per animal. India produces 102 million tonnes of milk per year from over 75 million cows and buffaloes.

They said that the white revolution the government talks about would not come without increasing the milk yield of its livestock. Low milk yield increases the cost of production of milk. American farmers feed one cow to obtain the same quantity of milk that a Pakistani farmer obtains by feeding 4.5 buffaloes or cows.

They point out that even with low yields, the dairy sector has moved ahead on its own without much government support. This, they added, has made the planners complacent. They said that the dairy sector has the potential to take Pakistan out of its economic woes, if the planners pay more attention to increase the productivity of its milking breeds.

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