September 2, 2010

Punjab's poultry farmers suffer US$93.56 million losses

Pakistan's northern zone poultry farmers have suffered loss of up to Rs8 billion (US$93.56 million) brought about by the worst floods, said Former chairman Pakistan Poultry Association Abdul Basit.

Moreover, the flash floods have stopped the production process in the affected areas for at least another six months.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates, around 0.2 million cows, sheep, buffalo, goats and donkeys have been confirmed dead or missing but the final numbers are likely to be much higher, possibly into millions. If poultry losses are also taken into account, then millions of animals have already died with the entire poultry stock getting wiped out in some areas.

The FAO estimates also show millions of surviving animals are facing severe feed shortages, which is threatening Pakistan's livestock. Basit said in order to rehabilitate the badly hit poultry and livestock sector in the country, the government should declare it a calamity hit sector and write off the bank loans of the affected people. "The government should also provide interest free loans to the farmers for at least two years to revive in this regard", he added.