Lahore: Fifteen years after the publication of the organization of food and agriculture (FAO) published its seminal report of 2010 on dairy products in 56 developing countries – including Pakistan – its basic conclusion remains relevant: small “low -technology” dairy operators offer unequaled potential to mitigate rural poverty.
Today, Pakistan ranks among the five nations producing milk worldwide, with annual production of more than 65 million tonnes. However, this volume does not come from operations on an industrial scale, but from 15 million small dairy households, each with an average of around 2 cows or buffalo. These small farmers – mainly based in rural areas – are the unknown backbone of the dairy economy of Pakistan.
The FAO 2010 report highlighted a key overview: the cost of milk production in small farms in developing countries is significantly lower than that of large high -tech farms in industrialized economies. This remains true in 2025, perhaps even more, because the world’s food prices for food continues strongly.
The industrial farms of developed countries, often managing herds of more than 100 cows, strongly depend on expensive food compounds and cereal diets to maximize yields. On the other hand, small farmers in Pakistan use agricultural by -products such as wheat and rice straw, corn rods and sugar cane peaks – considerably reducing the entry costs.
Beyond economic efficiency, these systems strengthen circular rural savings. Agricultural waste is reused, women play a central role in cattle care and dairy gains support millions of rural households, which makes the model socially and economically inclusive.
Global food prices have jumped over the past decade due to climatic shocks, the rise in land costs and competition from biofuels. However, small farms, which require fewer foods per liter of milk, are more resistant to these shocks than their industrial counterparts.
However, these farms are not without challenges. As prices increase, even basic inputs such as fodder, petroleum cakes and veterinary care tension are already tight. Affordable access to food, breeding extension services and veterinary care is now more essential than ever.
Despite their proven potential, small dairy farmers continue to receive limited political attention. Access to formal milk collection networks, credit, cold chain infrastructure and modern animal health care remains unequal. Almost half of the Pakistani milk is lost or spoiled due to bad storage and transport facilities.
Milk yields are also lagging behind global references – Pakistani cows produce an average of 3 to 4 liters per day, against more than 20 liters in industrialized systems. With better animal care, balanced nutrition and disease management, these yields could easily be doubled, stimulating farmers’ income and national milk supply.
The conclusion of the 2010 FAO is more relevant than ever: small dairy operators can be powerful vehicles for rural economic development. With targeted support – including the training of farmers, decentralized milk transformation and subsidies for food and health care – These operations could become viable micro -enterprises through the Pakistan campaign.
In addition, as climate change reshapes agriculture, the dairy systems of small operators – rooted in local food sources, family work and mixed agriculture – are more adaptive and durable than mega -aggressions with high intensity of resources.
At a time when industrial dairy companies dominate the headlines, Pakistan should not ignore its real force: millions of modest but resilient dairy producers who feed the nation. With the right support, these small operators can become the foundation of national food security and rural prosperity – just as FAO predicted it 15 years ago.
