Losses worth Rs8b to K-P livestock sector

An official of the livestock department said that 15 districts were affected by the devastating floods in the province, which affected approximately 427,000 animals in 11 districts of the province,
while reports of the four remaining districts which included Dir Upper and Lower, Shangla and Kohistan, were still awaited.

The officials claimed that the death of thousands of animals has also affected milk production, adding that they needed at least Rs195 million for the treatment of sick animals, and for food purposes.

He said that at least 135,000 cattle head had died in the floods, adding that the poultry industry was also greatly affected as 550,000 hens were also killed.

The official further claimed that direct losses to the livestock sector stood at Rs5.23 billion, while indirect losses were approximately worth Rs8 billion.

He said that there were chances of milk scarcity in the Nowshera, Peshawarand Charsadda district.

The official also claimed that the department required fodder worth Rs160 million for the affected cattle, and an additional Rs25 to 35 billion for medicines.

He further informed that the department had run short of its stock of medicines and that some companies were helping the department in getting fodder for animals.

Provincial Minister for Livestock Haji Hidayatullah when approached said that around 70 medical and 36 mobile medical camps were working in the province to provide treatments, with atleast 6620 officials working on these camps.

He said that the biggest issue was to vaccinate the animals and to protect the cattle head, adding that around 2 million animals have been vaccinated currently, following the floods.

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