January 31, 2005

Pakistan could become net dairy exporter

Pakistan's dairy industry holds enormous prospects of expansion, says a study carried out by the U.S.-Pakistan Business Council (USPBC).

These prospects exist in dairy farming, food processing and cattle farming.

Disclosing this, Adeel Shah, Vice President of the USPBC was quoted as saying that with necessary scientific management, there could be an appreciable increase in dairy production such that Pakistan could easily become a dairy exporting country in neighbouring regions."

"Pakistan is the fifth largest milk producing country, but at current international standards, it's dairy production unfortunately, is very low," he stated.

Adeel Shah, who led a four-member USPBC delegation to Pakistan from January 9 to 19, said that during the visit, an American company signed a memorandum for local joint ventures in dairy farming. The delegation visited Lahore, Sialkot, Okara and Islamabad.

He said a normal cow in Pakistan yields 8 kg milk per day, while a cow in the United States produces 65 pounds of milk daily. Due to malnutrition and under feeding of a cow or buffalow, general ruminant weight is also low. But with a systematic feed, some 60-70 percent increase in weight gain could be achieved, and meat production, consequently, would increase.

On the other hand, the welfare of those rearing cattle heads could be ensured by making a positive change in their earnings and improved living.

He said the gaps in dairy industry have been identified and the study revealed that "there are enormous prospects in dairy farming, food processing and cattle farming."

The delegation's next visit to Pakistan is likely in March.