Livestock Potentials in Balochistan: Prospects and Constraints with Special Reference to Small Ruminants

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify the impact of livestock potential and prospects through income generation, women participation and job creation as regard to difficulties and constraints to achieve the prosperity and development in Balochistan; the province of Pakistan. This study is focused on the potential of livestock, especially small ruminants for the development and prosperity through different factors such as; poverty reduction and better living standard of Balochistan. Study also examined the moderating role played by different constraint associating with financial, marketing, environmental and government constraints in the way of prosperity and development. The results indicated that potential and prospects had a direct positive influence on prosperity and development through various variables. However, the livestock prosperity was negatively related to livestock constraints including financial, marketing, environment and role of government constraints. Income generation ability and job creation were also found to have a strong positive impact on livestock potential and prospects. Women participation in livestock rearing activities is also positively related to livestock potential and with the prosperity and development. Nevertheless, women empowerment did not support the data of the study. Number of constraints were in the study strongly negative to prosperity and development. Hence, income generation with saving ability, job creation, women participation and poverty reduction were positively associated with potential and prosperity of livestock. They played more vital role in prosperity and development outcomes in the study. This study indicated empirical evidence of the impact of livestock prosperity and development through livestock especially small ruminants in Balochistan. That is, the livestock has the potential for the prosperity and development in the province and has significance role in boosting up the economy. Therefore, both potential, and prosperity played vital role in the provincial economy of the province. Study provides guideline to help policy makers, livestock holders and all other stake holders to better understand the livestock potential and constraints in the way to development and prosperity. Topic carries its significance because of no industrial development in the province and due to reliance of major population on livestock development in Balochistan. The rationale to emphasis on sheep and goat is due to their large share in Balochistan economy; they are the main livestock type in the province. The present data will serve as guideline and foundation for other studies in future. This research study will also be valuable to the investors to invest in livestock, which can lead to substantial improvements in the quantity and, more importantly, the quality to export livestock in the region.