LAHORE – The Punjab government has launched Phase II of the Livestock Card scheme following the success of Phase I.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif formally inaugurated the second phase digitally by swiping a Livestock Card.
A special documentary highlighting the initiatives of the Livestock Department was screened at the ceremony. The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the 96 per cent recovery rate achieved under Phase I. Provincial Minister for Livestock Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Livestock Ahmad Aziz Tarrar gave a detailed briefing on the scheme.
The briefing was informed that farmers would receive Rs27,000 per animal through the Livestock Card. Farmers would be able to purchase wanda (animal feed), silage and mineral mixtures, among other essential supplies, through interest-free loans.
Under Phase II, the government aims to increase meat production by improving the balanced nutrition of 600,000 animals over the next two years. Farmers will receive interest-free loans worth Rs16.2 billion under the scheme. The principal amount will be repaid by the farmers, while the Punjab government will bear the interest cost.
The Livestock Card will also facilitate free tagging of animals and anti-foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination. Farmers will be able to withdraw 25 per cent of their interest-free loans in cash through ATMs.
The briefing further revealed that the Livestock Connect portal had directly linked 23,000 farmers with meat exporters. The Punjab government has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with eight major exporters to promote meat exports.
Through PAMCO, MoUs have also been signed to facilitate meat exports to China, Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and European markets.
For the first time in Punjab, the number of women livestock farmers registered under the Livestock Card scheme has increased from 90 to 1,107. Animal exports from Punjab have risen by 43 per cent, while meat exports have increased by $96 million in one year due to the scheme.
A total of 23,312 Livestock Cards have been prepared for farmers across Punjab. Under the scheme, 1,739 farmers have carried out more than 70,000 transactions.
Farmers have spent Rs20 million on mineral mixtures, Rs87 million on silage and Rs892.6 million on wanda (animal feed), according to the briefing.
Livestock farmers can register themselves through the online portal for the Livestock Card scheme. A 24/7 helpline, 0800-09211, has also been established to facilitate farmers.
