Agriculture In Pakistan Essay

The livestock sector has a significant role in the economy of Pakistan, farm animals are the mainstay of farming communities and the small scale farmers. The population growth, urbanization, increases in per capita income and extrinsic trade opportunities are stimulating the demand of livestock and moreover livestock products. Keeping in view rural the economy, livestock plays a key role as it supplement’s family incomes and also in generating productive occupation in the countryside population, principally among the landless workers, small and marginal farmers and women. Rural population of deserts, mountain and scarce areas where water and green crops are not enough farmers of those areas raise mostly camel which can thrive readily in that harsh environment. The population of livestock is 176.454 million in which camel population is 10.15 million (FAOSTAT, 2014). Population of Camel around the world is about 28.09 million and Pakistan is on 8th number (FAO, 2014). Livestock contribution to national GDP is 11.8 percent while livestock contribution to agriculture value added stood at 55.9 percent (Economic survey 2013- 14).

During drought years and dry seasons when water and green grass resources are deficient these animals are very reliable milk producers while milk from other animals such as Cattles goat and Sheep is limited. So at times of scarce camel can give more than 50% of the nutrient consumption of the pastoralist (Farah, 2004). Camel meat is also an important byproduct mainly the source of income by slaughter of unproductive females and males. Camels are also used in means of transport in areas where other transport cannot reach. Also used for pulling carts and in plough up of field. According to the camel herders, camels can survive in harsh times of summer and winter for up to 30 days without water. This depends, however, on the grazing and prevailing temperatures (Farah,