APPRAISAL OF LIVESTOCK FARMING SYSTEM IN PERIURBAN AREAS OF FAISALABAD-PUNJAB

Local governments in big cities of the Punjab (Pakistan) have moved animals out of cities in order to avoid severe difficulties of congestion, hygiene, safety and traffic. This move resulted in development of dairy colonies in the peri-urban areas of big urban centers. Peri-urban dairy colonies provide an important link between peripheries of big cities and urban centers through provision of milk and meat. This important peri-urban production system needs to be studied in detail in terms of collecting basic data about its economic viability, ascertaining major constraints and suggesting policy options for its improvement. Keeping the above in view, the present research investigated peri-urban dairy production system in third largest city of Pakistan i.e., Faisalabad during the year 2021. About sixty respondents from seven different peripheries of Faisalabad were chosen purposively and interviewed. The data collected from peri-urban milk producers was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentages, averages, mean values and cross-tabulation. The study revealed that net income from livestock farming on overall basis was Rs.1108 per day while net income on farm size categories wise were Rs. 170, Rs. 910 and Rs. 2005 for small, medium and large livestock owners respectively. Major proportion of farmers (about 38 percent) from all three categories consider ed costly inputs as a major issue in peri-urban livestock farming followed by poor veterinary services (about 16 percent). Peri-urban dairy production system needs improvement in the form of various key factors such as proper feeding, availability of quality veterinary services, improved marketing of milk etc.