October 10, 2011

Pakistan's poultry consumption down

Per capita consumption of Pakistan's poultry meat is only 4.26 kilogrammes per annum as compared to 30 kilogrammes in developed countries, as revealed at a meeting by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) officials and Thailand delegation Wednesday (Oct 5).

The meeting was chaired by Faculty of Animal Husbandry Dean Professor Dr Muhammad Sarwar while the Thailand delegation was headed by company Vice Chairman Nutthakrit Sivarsi.

The Thailand Company is likely to make a heavy investment in the poultry industry of Pakistan. Sarwar said investment in poultry sector must be coupled with research and development which is, no doubt, an integral part of this industry.

He said collaboration with University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, would help improve opportunities in this sector. He said that foundation of Commercial Poultry Industry in Pakistan was laid in 1963 based on technical guidelines provided by the UAF.

He said that the industry is growing with each passing day and foreigners should also come in the country to invest in the industry. Professor Dr Muhammad Jalal Arif said Pakistan had a history of outbreak of various diseases including Leukosis, new-castle disease, hydro pericardium syndrome, infectious bursal disease and avian influenza. To cope with the situation, preventive vaccines against disease have been developed by joint ventures of public and private sectors, he added.