Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government announced an interest-free credit program aimed at supporting livestock farmers and cattle herders, as reported on October 21.
The initiative aims to promote livestock farming, enhance productivity, and improve financial stability for those in the sector. This announcement was made by KP Minister for Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives, Fazal Hakeem Khan Yousafzai, during a progress review meeting on ongoing and future plans of the Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives Department. High-ranking officials, including Secretary Fakhar Alam Khan, Director General (DG) Livestock (Extension) Dr. Asal Khan, Director General Livestock Research Dr. Ijaz Ali, Director Livestock for Merged Districts Dr. Abdul Waheed Wazir, and Registrar Cooperatives Muhammad Ishaq, were also present at the meeting.
During the briefing, DG Livestock Extension Dr. Asal Khan highlighted ongoing efforts to provide interest-free loans to cattle herders. Negotiations with banks are underway to ensure smooth implementation of the project, with the government set to cover the costs while herders repay the principal amount in easy instalments.
Dr. Ijaz Ali, Director General of Livestock and Dairy Development (Research), provided updates on research efforts targeting cattle and poultry diseases. He emphasized that modern Livestock Research Centres, established in Peshawar, Abbottabad, Chitral, Swat, Kohat, and D.I. Khan, are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to conduct this research. Minister Yousafzai underscored the need for advanced research on fisheries, urging the department to focus on enhancing fish production, improving breeding techniques, and preventing diseases. He also called for the revival of the cooperative bank to support livestock farmers further and directed the department to make cooperatives more active.
A significant technological step forward was also discussed during the meeting, with the introduction of an animal identification and tracking system. This digital initiative is expected to improve the management and monitoring of livestock, boost productivity, and help control the spread of diseases across the province. The interest-free loan initiative, coupled with cutting-edge research and digital advancements, is seen as a comprehensive strategy to strengthen KP’s livestock sector and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the province.
