The two-day International Buffalo Congress 2019 recommended transformation of buffalo production from population driven to technology driven and from fragmented to more organized commercial model
LAHORE (Pakistan Point News - 20th February, 2019) The two-day International Buffalo Congress 2019 recommended transformation of buffalo production from population driven to technology driven and from fragmented to more organized commercial model. “Transformation of subsistence to commercial farming needs input of technology packages combining breeding, feeding, disease control, management and marketing instead of piece meal approach, so an integrated approach similar to the model of Swedish project in Sri Lanka be adopted,” read the recommendations of the congress which was organised by the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore in collaboration with the Livestock and Dairy Development.
It was further recommended adopting successful methods of buffalo breeding such as Fixed Time AI in smallholder buffalo farms and alternate non-conventional local feed resources be explored using R&D to make these safe for cost effective use in buffalo feeding. The concluding ceremony of the congress was chaired by Governor Punjab/Chancellor Ch Mohammad Sarwar. Speaking on the occasion, the governor said that livestock has huge potential which is under-utilised and we need to increase per animal yield. He said that the Punjab government is working on various strategies to overcome the challenge of ensuring availability of sufficient, safe and secure food to the masses. He said that our scientists are working to create Foot and Mouth Disease-free zones in and incentivize saving and calf fattening programs. He said that livestock is raised as an easily ‘convertible currency’ and a reliable ‘living bank’ to provide day -to-day financial needs of the rural masses. Buffalo farming is playing a pivotal role in the national economy by producing significant proportion of milk and meat and we have to develop it further, the governor said. Appreciating the participation of Indian professors, the governor said that Pakistan wants good relations with all its neighbours, joint efforts for peace and defeating terrorism. He was all praise for Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his visit and confidence on Pakistan and investment of $20billion in our country. Minister for Livestock and Dairy Development Punjab Sardar Hasnain Bahadar Dareshak called for genetic improvement of animals with better management strategies to increase their productivity i.e. milk and meat. Speaking about the importance of buffalo, the minister said “Cattle is like our mother which gives us food. If we take care of it, it will feed us.” He said that the congress recommendations will help government in further growth and development of the livestock sector. Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said that the congress was aimed is to review and update the work in the thematic areas of nutrition, reproduction, genetics, management, health, and socio-economics of buffalo with its main “Subsistence to Commercialization”. He said that the information generated in the congress will help in bringing economic prosperity of buffalo farmers. More than 500 delegates from Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and the United States of America attended the congress, which was spread over one plenary and 14 technical sessions and a farmer-industry forum, 12 business meetings, seven pre-congress workshops, 100 each posters and oral presentations on 10 different aspects of buffalo. Secretary Livestock and Dairy Development Punjab Muhammad Ahsan Waheed, Secretary International Buffalo Federation Dr Antonio Borghese and a large number of national and international delegation, professionals and Livestock Department officials attended the congress.
