Livestock

Introduction

Kech is one of the largest livestock raising areas in Makran division. The areas of Zamuran, Buleda, Dasht, and Mand are major small ruminant raising areas in the district. There is a gross discrepancy in the livestock census figures for 1976, 1986 and the preliminary figures for 1996. In the last ten years, an overall increase of more than 60 percent in Livestock Units has been reported in the 1996 census. The most significant increase has been observed in the population of goats, cattle, donkeys and camels. A significant statistical depression of livestock in 1986 is incomprehensible. This fluctuation seems a result of unreliable data collection and inefficient supervision during the census process.

Livestock farmers own herds of more than one hundred heads of small ruminants and there is a regular pattern of seasonal migration. The livestock raising communities live in mountainous or un-irrigated areas, like Zamuran, Mand, Tump, Nag, Balgattar, and Dasht. Apart from the livestock farming household, all the agricultural households in Kech raise different animals. An average household may own a couple of cows, a pair of bullocks or a camel for ploughing, sometimes a donkey as a beast of burden and several sheep and goats. Horses were kept by a vast majority of landowners about two decades ago but the popularity of motorcycles has drastically reduced the horse population. Now an insignificant number of landowners still own horses. Poultry is raised by a vast majority of the households but mortality rate is reported to be high and discouraging.

Although women in less populated areas graze their animals, mostly the children are livestock grazers. Women are involved in a variety of livestock activities. They feed the animals in the home, if fodder is available, and cure them by traditional methods. By grazing the animals children share the economic burden of the household. However, this deprives the children of schooling, which is a basic constitutional right of every child.

Cattle

The cow is the most raised cattle in Kech and is a major source of milk production. Buffaloes are rare. Bullocks and camels are raised for farming as well as to fulfil nutritional needs of the area. Beef of these cattle is not only consumed locally but is sent to other areas also for slaughter. According to an estimate, local consumption amounts to 7,257 cattle per month. Hides are sold in the open market at Turbat to the retailers and afterwards sent to Karachi for processing. Cattle are marketed to a mandi (market) which commences every week.

Small Ruminants

Sheep and goats constitutes an overwhelming majority of the livestock population. Even agricultural households have tens of small ruminants. These are raised mostly in un-irrigated areas where range land provides pasture. Sheep and goats are raised for multiple purposes like milk, mutton, and money. In Kech district, at the average, 11,500 sheep and 53,100 goats are estimated to be slaughtered every month. Women are involved in milking, milk processing, medication and cleaning of abodes, etc.

Poultry

There are a few poultry farms in Kech but the major part of poultry requirement is met through illegal import of poultry birds from Iran. There are 2 functional poultry farms which produce about 3,000 Pakistani poultry birds. Other poultry farms are closed. Iranian chicken is relatively cheaper.

Disease Control

Major diseases prevalent among livestock in Kech are long worm, wire worm, liver fluke, pelorononenia and mange. Although women and men are both involved in curing of diseases, people are not very much considerate about diseases of their stocks. Again lack of road links and unavailability of veterinary services at union council level results in high livestock mortality. However exact mortality rates are not known.

Veterinary Institutions

At present only one veterinary hospital is functional in Kech district at Turbat. There are 22 veterinary dispensaries. The facility of an Artificial Insemination Centre is not available in the district, however a Disease Investigation Laboratory Unit is present. As these are the only veterinary health outlets in the district, change in fee policy affects animal treatment to a great extent. Presently, 50 percent of the total treatment cost is charged from livestock owners while it is planned to be raised up to 75 percent in 1997-98 and to 100 percent in 1998-99. The vaccination was free in 1993-94 but in 1994-95 a fee of rupees two per vaccination was imposed. This policy resulted in decreased livestock vaccination from 30,981 to 17,900 animals. Therefore the government made it free again in 1995-96. Now rate of vaccination is again on increase (see Annex 7). In order to provide veterinary services to people living in far flung areas, mobile camps are also organised in winter season.

Department of Livestock Development

In Kech, the Department of Livestock Development is supervised by an Assistant Director. The total staff strength of the department is 58, which includes four veterinary officers also. The department is responsible for providing veterinary treatment facilities, running dairy and poultry farms, and collection of livestock data.

GO/NGO/Private Enterprise, etc. involvement in Livestock Development

The provincial government is providing veterinary services and, to some extent, input supplies while price setting and marketing is done by the private sector. The federal government is providing credit services through the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan which can facilitate and enable the people for livestock development.

Conclusion and major Development Issues

Livestock statistics are rather inaccurate. Different sources give different figures. Although statistics indicate a growing trend, unavailability of fodder discourages people to keep much livestock and the number of Livestock Units in Kech is among the lowest in Balochistan. Inception of new occupations and urbanisation have decreased interest in livestock farming. However, a considerable proportion of the population is still involved in this activity. Livestock farming can take the form of an organised sector if the government provides more effective guidance and veterinary services along with easily payable credit. Mostly small ruminants are preferred to by most of the people and only a few dairy animals are kept by households. Agricultural development may result in better fodder crops and, consequently, in increased cattle farming.

Women and children are mainly involved in daily livestock herding and caring. Livestock services, however, are mainly rendered towards men. Farmers in general, but women at household level in particular, lack information and knowledge in livestock raising, as they do not have access to adequate training in animal husbandry.