The pakistani dairy sector: Balancing tradition, seeking innovation, and the future of family farms

Tune in for an interview with a Pakistani dairy professional about the country's huge dairy sector, which ranks 4th or 5th globally and feeds roughly 300 million consumers.

The guest discusses the realities of the industry:
Massive demand: The majority of the population is lactose tolerant and consumes a lot of dairy.
Traditional methods: Milking is still mostly done manually ("hand-milked"), with a significant lack of technical advancements and hygiene practices.
Scale: The dairy buffalo colony in Karachi, where his farm is located, houses around 700,000 animals.
He shares his impressions of his first visit to France and the SPACE event, which he calls "Disney for dairy farmers". He is focused on bringing back ideas for more efficient, climate-resilient technology, and better hygiene management to combat mastitis.
The guest is also advocating for the development of small family farms and extends an invitation to French farmers for an educational exchange in Pakistan.
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We interview a professional from Pakistan's dairy industry—a country that ranks between 4th and 5th in global milk production, providing for approximately 300 million people. Consumption is high due to the majority of the population being lactose tolerant.

A sector rooted in tradition:
The guest's farm is located near Karachi, within a dairy buffalo colony that holds nearly 700,000 animals.

Milking practices: Milking is largely manual, with one labor unit typically milking around 13 cows or buffaloes.

Challenges: There's a recognized lack of technical advancements and insufficient attention to basic hygiene protocols. Mastitis is a significant problem, primarily caused by poor hygiene and improper milking practices, leading to substantial losses for farmers.
Breeds: Popular local breeds include the Sahiwal, Red Sindi, Cholistani, Thari, and the prevalent water buffalo. They are also working with Holsteins. The guest was particularly fascinated by the Mumbreal breed discovered at SPACE, which he hopes to develop back home.

Innovation and the future:
This was the guest's first visit to France and the SPACE exhibition, which he found "fantastic" and compared to "Disney for dairy farmers". He plans to return, hopefully with his family.

Key takeaways and areas for implementation in Pakistan include:
More efficient and productive technology.
More climate resilient farming techniques.
Improved focus on hygiene.

As a legacy of his farming father, the guest is keen to support the development of small family farms alongside corporate operations, seeing it as crucial for human development. He extends a warm invitation to French farmers to visit Pakistan for a win-win situation—to share knowledge on improving dairy milking and to enjoy buffalo milk.

#DairyFarming #PakistanAgriculture #Livestock #SPACE2025 #Mastitis #DairyHygiene #WaterBuffalo #FamilyFarms #AgriTech #Sahiwal