August 24, 2010

Pakistan's biggest sector depends on US imports

Even as poultry is Pakistan's largest industry today and not textile, almost 80% of the poultry that is produced locally is dependent upon chicken flocks imported from the US.

"If the US stops chicken supply, Pakistan's economy can collapse," said the adviser to the chairman of Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), Asif Khan. He explains that the industry was very much reliant on the import of US-produced parent flock and vaccines.

It takes a year for the local breed to grow, but the ones imported from the US take 38-40 days and are ready to eat in a very short time. Imports from the US are currently much more efficient, making the country's industry dependant.

Khan said that chicken has become part of the daily diet for many across the country, and believed it has become a really profitable business for the investors.

"There are presently 28,000 farms and the situation has improved in the last 10 years in the feed mill sector as well," said the Central Chairman of Poultry Association, Mohammad Aslam.

"Though confidence of investors and business community has grown in the poultry sector, the government is failing to take measures which could help sustain the industry," said Khan, pointing out that health benefits need attention of investors and the government alike, for further improvement of the sector.

Nevertheless, Pakistan is in a constant struggle to experiment and produce its own parent flock at the National Agricultural Research Council (Narc), which is running a state-of-the-art research centre on 1,600 acres of land in Chak Shahzad.

"The research centre consists of four chicken sheds and many scientists, but they have not been able to produce desired results and the situation has only slightly improved over the years," said an official of PARC.

The US produces great grandparent flock, which gives birth to grandparent flock, which in turn produces the parent flock and this eventually is imported by Pakistan. This flock cannot breed further and has a short life span.

"We get the broiler breed from the parent flock after which it dies, and hence we have to import again," said an official of PARC.

Similarly, chicken vaccination is also imported from the US. "This puts extra burden on the poultry business but it is a great opportunity for the local companies to take over the US market if they conduct proper research and provide vaccines," said Khan.