The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has stressed the federal and Balochistan governments for taking steps to develop an integrated wool value chain development program in the province, an official source said.
The cattle herders of Balochistan face difficulty in marketing and getting fair prices for their produce. A well-functioning wool value chain in the province will create employment for herders, shearers, wool washers, sorters, graders, balers, spinners, dyers, traders and transporters. Much of this work can be done by women.
The source said that the recommendation was made at a workshop on ‘National Wool Development Programme” held by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR). Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan chaired this workshop.
FAO representative Patrick T Evans said that wool has a high potential for development in Balochistan and this important resource will be used to improve livelihoods of rural farmers, including women. He invited the participants to make practical recommendations and financial contribution for the development of the wool value chain in Balochistan.
He said the programme will cover all aspects of the wool value chain from improved and sustainable rangeland management for vaccination, better feeding of sheep, delivery of shearing services and added value activities such as carpet making.
The workshop aimed at seeking suggestions and recommendations for the best way forward in developing the wool sector in Balochistan to improve the rural economy of the province by implementing a long-term sustainable wool development programme in Pakistan.
Sikandar Bosan said that there was a need to expand and professionalise the wool sector in Balochistan, which accounts for 50 per cent of sheep in the country. The wool programme will be coordinated by FAO in close cooperation with the government of Balochistan and the MNFSR as main programme partners and the DGs of Sindh, Punjab and KP at a later stage.
