A New Wave of Fear for Punjab’s Livestock Farmers with the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease

South Punjab is again in the shadow of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), with new cases popping up in Rahim Yar Khan and surrounding villages along Sindh and Balochistan borders. The disease has quickly spread in Chak 196-1-L, Chak 93-1-L, Ahmedpur Lamma, Kot Sabzal, Chowk Bahadurpur, and some other places, and cattle owners are concerned about their livestock and livelihood.

For many farmers, livestock is not just a source of income but also their family’s survival. “We are helpless. Our animals are sick, but the government vaccines never arrive,” one farmer from Kot Sabzal lamented, expressing the growing frustration of small-scale livestock keepers.

The Deadly Toll of Lumpy Skin Disease

LSD veterinary specialists describe LSD as inducing painful skin nodules, fever, loss of appetite, and a drastic decline in milk yield. Infected livestock usually present with spoiled meat, rendering them unsuitable for sale in markets. Apart from animal health, the disease also has direct impacts on rural livelihoods, household nutrition, and the already vulnerable dairy value chain.

Since its initial detection in Pakistan in 2022, when it was introduced through imported cattle, LSD has been causing repeated economic jolts to the livestock industry. Most farmers never came out of the last outbreak, and the nightmare of going through that once again is turning into a reality.

Vaccine Shortages: Farmers Left on Their Own

In spite of the Punjab Livestock Department alert, ground conditions are different. Farmers say that no vaccines sent by the government have reached their villages. With every passing day, they are compelled to purchase private doses at exorbitant rates, further embroiling themselves in debt.

“Cost of a dose of one vaccine is higher than what a small farmer can pay. How are we to save our whole herd?” asked a Tib Chauhan herder. Rural communities have been left exposed, both economically and psychologically, as a result of the absence of early state intervention.

The Spread Beyond Rahim Yar Khan

The epidemic is now not limited to southern Punjab alone. LSD has also been reported in Pakpattan, Lodhran, and Khanewal, indicating the virus is creeping northwards quietly. Only three months ago, Punjab had seen another animal crisis when thousands of livestock were affected by foot-and-mouth disease, adding to the industry’s woes.

Unless the government acts quickly, Punjab could soon experience a nationwide livestock disaster, not only impacting farmers but also city dwellers through higher milk and meat prices.

Failure of Government Response: Checkpoints Publicized but Not Installed

In a bid to limit the spread, the Punjab government has made public plans to set up inter-provincial checkpoints in order to prevent infected cattle from crossing over from Sindh and Balochistan. However, local sources affirm that action on the ground continues to be slow and ineffective.

Without effective surveillance, border control, and quick vaccination campaigns, the disease could spread outside of Punjab and result in another national emergency, experts warn.

What Experts Recommend

Livestock experts are calling upon the government to:

• Make vaccines immediately available in affected districts.
• Roll out awareness campaigns to inform farmers of symptoms and early reporting.
• Enhance surveillance systems at district and provincial levels.
• Offer financial support to small-scale farmers who are losing heavily.

These measures, they contend, are not just important to contain the present outbreak but also avoid another such catastrophic 2022 crisis.

An Urgent Call to Action

The ongoing outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease in Punjab is not merely a veterinary concern it’s a food security, rural livelihood, and public health issue. Each passing day in inaction is piling on the misery of farmers and building the risk of spreading further.

For the livestock farmers in southern Punjab, the message is clear: they require vaccines, awareness, and assistance today, not tomorrow. Otherwise, the disease may leave a long-term mark on Pakistan’s agriculture economy.

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