Constraints in Livestock Health System in Balochistan-Pakistan and its Impact on the Economy

Author: Muhammad Shafiq*, Jahangir Khan**, Asma Azhar*** and Nosheen Rafiq****

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Abstract

A study was conducted in December 2016 to April 2017 to identify the impact of livestock health system on the livestock economy of Balochistan. Livestock is the largest sector of agrarian economy of Balochistan. However, it is facing number of limitations and constraints. Livestock health system has emerged as an impediment to the development of livestock economy. Current study focuses on the constraints in livestock health system of Balochistan. The Province of Balochistan has the largest number of small ruminants in the whole country, hence, the study is more focused on the health related issues of small ruminant in particular. Due to the largest province of Pakistan (in terms of area), the province of Balochistan, is facing numerous veterinary related issues, such as: Poor Veterinary services (PVS), Poor Veterinary extension services (PVE) and Improper medicine supply (IMS). These factors have direct impact on the livestock economy of Balochistan. This paper is an attempt to look

Keywords

Livestock, Small ruminants, animal health constraints, diseases, Economy.

Conclusion

Animal health is an important issue in rural settings. Theses societies take their livestock as they care their relations. Diseases in livestock animals are also prevalent which cause not only the financial loss to livestock holders but it is also like a missing a member in the family. However, they cannot avoid it (Nawaz, 1995). Additionally, there are no proper veterinary services and improper medication are catastrophic for the growth of livestock herds in rural settings. This ultimately depresses the livestock economy and does not allow the livestock holder to prosper (Thornton et al., 2002).

References

Balochistan is located in southwest of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the country’s total land mass (Geological Survey of Pakistan, 2005; Shafiq et al, 2016), and the smallest in terms of population, being home to less than 5% of the country’s total population (Population and Housing Census of Pakistan, 1998). Most part of Balochistan is highly arid zone of the country, so crop cultivation is considered very difficult in major parts of Balochistan, due to low annual rainfall, creating a shortage of water resources. The low rainfall varying from 50 millimeter in coastal areas of Makran and Chagai district to 400 mm in the North Eastern Parts of Lorelei and Zhob districts (Balochistan Sub Strategy, 1999). Poor nutrition in combination with livestock diseases are a serious problem limiting production of small ruminants in Balochistan. It is estimated that only 11 % of Baluchistan’s livestock have access to veterinary dispensaries (Mansell, and Wehn, 1998). The inaccessi

How to cite this article

Muhammad Shafiq, Jahangir Khan, Asma Azhar and Nosheen Rafiq (2017). Constraints in Livestock Health System in Balochistan-Pakistan and its Impact on the Economy . Biological Forum – An International Journal 9(2): 243-247.