Abstract
The chicken industry of Pakistan is a major livestock sub-sector, playing a pivotal role in economic growth and rural development. This study aimed to characterize and map the structure of broiler and layer production systems, associated value chains, and chicken disease management in Pakistan. Qualitative data were collected in 23 key informant interviews and one focus group discussion on the types of production systems, inputs, outputs, value addition, market dynamics, and disease management. Quantitative data on proportions of commodity flows were also obtained. Value chain maps were generated to illustrate stakeholder groups and their linkages, as well as flows of birds and products. Thematic analysis was conducted to explain the functionality of the processes, governance, and disease management. Major chicken production systems were: (1) Environmentally controlled production (97–98%) and (2) Open-sided house production (2–3%). Broiler management systems were classified as (I) Independent broiler production; (II) Partially integrated broiler production; and (III) Fully integrated broiler production, accounting for 65–75, 15–20, and 10–15% of commercial broiler meat supply, respectively. The management systems for layers were classified as (I) Partially integrated layer production and (II) Independent layer production, accounting for 10 and 80–85% in the egg production, respectively. The share of backyard birds for meat and eggs was 10–15%. Independent, and integrated systems for chicken production could be categorized in terms of value chain management, dominance of actors, type of finished product and target customers involved. Integrated systems predominantly targeted high-income customers and used formal infrastructure. Numerous informal chains were identified in independent and some partially integrated systems, with middlemen playing a key role in the distribution of finished birds and eggs. Structural deficiencies in terms of poor farm management, lack of regulations for ensuring good farming practices and price fixing of products were key themes identified. Both private and public stakeholders were found to have essential roles in passive disease surveillance, strategy development and provision of health consultancies. This study provides a foundation for policy-makers and stakeholders to investigate disease transmission, its impact and control and the structural deficiencies identified could inform interventions to improve performance of the poultry sector in Pakistan.
Highlights
Chicken production is an important sub-sector of agriculture in Pakistan and plays a pivotal role in rural economic development
Respondents described that over 75–80% of chicken meat and egg production in Pakistan was commercial in environmentally controlled intensive systems, while backyard birds accounted for 20–25%
Three production systems for broilers and two for layers were identified (Table 2). These systems include: Fully integrated production, partially integrated production, and independent farming (Figures 2, 6). Integrated producers were those where one single company managed the value chain, from grandparent production to finished chicken products sold to retailers or consumers
Summary
Chicken production is an important sub-sector of agriculture in Pakistan and plays a pivotal role in rural economic development. The estimated number of commercial chickens in the country in 2017 was 1,022 million birds with production of 17,083 million eggs and 1,270,000 tons of meat, providing direct and indirect employment to over 1.5 million people [1, 2]. The commercial chicken industry in Pakistan has grown at 8–10% annually over the past two decades [3]. The efficiency and availability of modern farming technologies, high profit margins, and the establishment of federal institutions for poultry production in the 1990s were important drivers for the modern chicken industry in Pakistan [4]. Investment by private and public sectors has increased, from 200 billion Pakistani rupee (PKR) (1.28 billion USD) in 2015 to 700 billion PKR (4.47 billion USD) in 2018
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