Introduction

Livestock is an important source of livelihood for a majority of the rural population. It not only generates income for flock owners, but is also a major source of nutrition for the population. Moreover the final use of livestock is multidimensional in nature. Animals are exported to the other provinces to meet food requirements. They are also an important source of milk, wool, hides & skins. Further, they are an important source of transportation particularly in those areas where speedy transport is not available or for those areas where hilly tracts are present. The hilly tracts and the presence of vegetation on them is particularly suitable for grazing purposes.

In the district, most of the people are engaged in livestock grazing activities. It should be remembered that traditionally nomads with their flocks regularly visit Killa Abdullah district, when the weather is not favourable in Afghanistan. Mostly sheep and goats are reared. Some rear it for domestic purpose, and others for commercial purposes.

It is surprising to note that according to the 1986 livestock census there was a significant number of sheep, goats, and cattle, whereas in 1996 their total number has declined drastically ranging from 5.76% to 86% per type of animal.

It is very difficult to estimate the ‘growth’ rate for 1986 and 1996 figures because the earlier figures were available for Pishin and Killa Abdullah combined. The 1996 figures are available on separate basis. However, for the sake of comparison the 1996 figures for Pishin and district Killa Abdullah have been added. The results of this computation indicate that the number of sheep has declined by 43.35%. Similarly goats figures show a decline of 58.56%, cattle shows a decline to the extent of 5.76%. The buffalo is the only animal showing an increase of 10.42%, donkeys and camels have reduced by 74%. Poultry also shows a negative growth of 13.46%.

Male involvement in the livestock activities is substantial in the district, while female involvement is very minor. However, their role within the house is very significant. This is so because in the outside activities women, due to cultural constraints, cannot effectively take part. As far as paid labour involvement is concerned men are paid while women are not paid.

Source: 1) 1986, Livestock Census of Balochistan. 1996, Information from Assistant Director Animal Health, Pishin

The figure of herd size per household is not available. However, it can be gathered that apart from those keeping livestock for commercial purpose, in general 2 to 3 animals per household have been observed. Cows are traditionally kept by the more well to do. The keeping of high priced cows is considered as a sign of prestige.

There is no meat processing plant neither in the district nor in the province. Livestock markets exist in several towns of the district like Maizai, Killa Abdullah, Gulistan and Chaman. Moreover, livestock is bought and sold in the villages through middle man as well as by the owners themselves. Livestock prices are subject to fluctuation. There are many factors, influencing the prices of livestock in the district. The first one is the arrival of nomads from Afghanistan. Due to oversupply, prices normally decline. However, consumers don’t benefit, because the prices of meat remain unaltered. It is interesting to mention that during drought years the prices of livestock drop because the herd owners can not afford the costs of feeding the animals. At the time of Eid-ul-Azha, and immediately after, the prices are normally very high. This is due to a huge demand for slaughter animals. Similarly in the winter season the prices go up due to a higher demand, whereas in the spring and summer season the prices of livestock slightly come down.

There were 32,500 cattle and 3,300 buffaloes in the district. It is unfortunate that the number of slaughtered animals in Killa Abdullah is not available. This is due to the fact that no recognised slaughterhouse is available in the district. A large number of cattle are slaughtered every day in government controlled slaughterhouses and an even greater number outside the slaughterhouses. For example during 1994-95 in district Pishin excluding Killa Abdullah 66,421 cattle and buffalo were slaughtered. The proportion of cattle in the total number of slaughtered animals was 99.2%.

Hides and skin production takes place but they are not processed in the district. They are only dried and salted. In the process of marketing hides and skin, only the private sector is involved. There are 10 dairy farms in the private sector supplying milk and butter to the surrounding population at reasonable prices.

Small Ruminants

Livestock is not only a major source of income for the rural population, flock owning is also considered a sign of prestige. Therefore, in the Killa Abdullah district traditionally people rear/ keep livestock. Small ruminants can be observed in the households of every village. Price fluctuations are normally witnessed during winter when the vegetation for grazing is not available. Due to the high cost of feed and fodder for small ruminants prices decline. This is so because due to abject poverty, the owner is not able to bear the feeding expenses. According to the livestock census 1996, for which provisional figures are available the goats and sheep numbered more than 216,000 in district Killa Abdullah.

Wool as a by-product is marketed to other provinces for final use in carpet and blanket industries. The private sector is engaged in the marketing of wool and skins. The marketing of wool is different from that of skins in the sense that wool is gathered from live sheep and goats. Women play an important role in this activity. The collected wool is sold to intermediaries, who finally send it to other provinces. A minor part of this wool is used for family requirements.

Poultry is an important income generating activity of rural women in district Killa Abdullah. Rural women keep hens for eggs and the income from this activity belongs to them. However, a major proportion of the eggs and chickens are consumed by the family to meet the nutritional and ceremonial requirement of the family. The chicken and eggs produced under the free range system are called ‘Dessi’ and they fetch a premium price in the local market. The limited data does not allow an estimate of the production figures for the free range category. Nevertheless, it has been observed that a major proportion of the local demand is met from this source.

There are a few privately owned poultry farms in the district (in Chaman, Killa Abdullah, and in Jungle Pir Alizai).

 The nature of the typical livestock diseases may vary from animal to animal, from season to season and from place to place. The most common diseases among the livestock in district Killa Abdullah are:

There is a network of government veterinary institutions in the district. Through this network the diseases affected animals are treated and vaccinated. For example during 1994-95 39,085 animals were treated and almost 26,000 animals were vaccinated. Data about livestock dipping is not available.

Women are also involved in disease control of animals by using domestic cures.

There is a network of veterinary institutions including hospitals, dispensaries, Artificial Insemination Centre (AIC), Disease investigation laboratory (D.I.L.) units. The number of hospitals in 1989/90 was two and has remained the same to date. The number of dispensaries has increased from 29 in 1989/90 to 32 in 1994/95, out of them, only 20 are functional.

Artificial insemination centres have increased to 5 during the same period. In addition to these governments funded institution, a large number of privately managed clinics are also working. There are 43 persons engaged in providing veterinary services in the district. They include doctors, inseminators and vaccinators.

Veterinary drugs are available in the market and also in the government veterinary hospitals. It is interesting to note that in the early years these drugs were highly subsidised. With the passage of time the proportion of subsidy has decreased and now the full cost of the medicine is recovered from the owner. This has created a peculiar situation for the owners, because in the open market, smuggled veterinary medicines, particularly from Iran, are available at a much cheaper rate than the rate charged by government institutions. Therefore, people normally buy medicines from the open market but take their animals to government centres/hospitals for diagnosis. The number of animals treated during 1994-95 was 39,085, while 25,988 were vaccinated (see Annex 7).

It is unfortunate that detailed statistics for this vital sector are not available. However, some crude estimates about the treatment expenditure per year show that for small animals it ranges from rupees 10 to 15 and for big animals from rupees 150 to 200 per annum.

Source: Assistant Director Animal Health Pishin.

The provincial government plays a dominant role as far as involvement in the provision of livestock services in the district is concerned, followed by the private sector, international donors and federal and local government institutions. At present NGOs do not play any role. The provincial government, supported by international donors, is actively involved in providing the following services to the live stock sector.

The marketing services and price setting policy are influenced by the private enterprises and the provincial government. While local government plays an active role in providing slaughtering services, it is important to note that the dominant role in slaughtering services is played by the private sector.

Dairy development services, to some extent, are provided by the provincial government. Like slaughtering, the dairy development services are mostly provided by the private sector. It is very unfortunate that none of the above mentioned agencies is providing credit facilities to this vital sector of the economy. As far as collection of livestock statistics is concerned, data are collected by the provincial government and are further processed by the federal government.

Legend: - no involvement

x minor involvement

xx substantial involvement

xxx major involvement

The following conclusions have emerged:

1. The livestock sector plays a significant role in the economy of district Killa Abdullah. It is an important source of livelihood and a major source of income for livestock owners.
2. The district has vast potential of increasing its production of small ruminants, provided water resources are fully exploited. The productivity and quantity of small ruminants can be increased through public investment by providing certain facilities to this sector e.g. improvement of disease control, live stock extension service etc.
3. It has been observed, that the majority of the population living in rural areas is very poor. They cannot afford to rear flocks on a commercial basis. There is complete absence of credit facilities particular in the livestock sector. Supply of feed and fodder is inadequate.
4. There is a dire need to educate the farmers through livestock extension services.
5. It is essential to synchronize the policies of local, provincial & federal government, international donors and the private sector for livestock development . Moreover, like in other districts, NGOs can play their due role in the district.
6. It has been observed that most of the beneficiaries of government/international donor schemes are rich and influential persons of the community, while the poor people neither have access nor have the knowledge and courage to benefit from these services. Therefore, the need arises to organise the poor people through NGOs on community participation basis, so that they may be able to share the fruits of development.
7. There is a shortage of data on livestock activities. People have complained that veterinary staff rarely visit the villages for curative and preventive purposes. Therefore, institutional capacity at district level should be enhanced.
8. Women’s involvement in livestock is not taken into account despite their major contribution. There are no training or credit facilities available to mainstream women’s activities in this sector.