An opportunity to consider

I visited Dong’e County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China, in the first week of November 2024 – as the result of an invitation by a mega Chinese conglomerate to attend the International Donkey Industry Development Conference, a star-studded affair gathering of stakeholders and experts from various countries.

The aim of the conference was to promote the global transition of donkeys into livestock and achieve sustainable development. This event was a platform for international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and mutual benefits.

I visited the Dong’E E-Jiao (DEEJ) donkey farm in Dong’e County. It is the largest processor of donkeys annually, including black donkeys. The company, which has over 65,000 shareholders, produces and sells six major industrial categories, more than 100 varieties including Chinese patent medicine, healthcare products, biomedicine, pharmaceutic adjuvants, medical equipment. It accounts for 75 per cent and 90 per cent of the national total production volume and export volume of donkey-hide gelatin. Its e-jiao tonic is among the top ten tonic products of China.

In countries such as Pakistan and India, the word donkey is generally used as a slur. However, for the Chinese, the donkey provides delectable meat, nourishing milk, high methane dung, and the incredible gelatine (e-jiao in Chinese which is considered premium medicine) from its hide is a vital ingredient for many Traditional Chinese Medicines.

The donkey industry is truly a traditional health industry. This ecosystem focuses on various business operations such as breeding, disease prevention, feeds, farming, trading, value addition, catering, and even tourism. Ever since donkeys were domesticated thousands of years ago, they have played a unique role in carrying heavy loads, pulling carts, and being used for other difficult tasks.

The government could introduce a policy of facilitative financial loans for the setting up of breeding farms, and announce a policy of export rebates for the industry. Special incentives could be provided for the manufacture of gelatine since value addition is crucial for a profitable business

Research reveals that donkey-specific tales are an important part of the Chinese folk culture. Poets came up with poems to express their feelings about what they saw and heard when riding donkeys. Chinese characters for donkeys were also designed and are popular. Donkeys were also used by the military. In China, donkey farming has transformed from small undertakings to industrialised animal husbandry operations.

Pakistan has emerged as the largest exporter of donkeys for the last dozen consecutive years. Pakistan and China signed a protocol during the recent visit of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. China has agreed to import meat and hides of 200,000 donkeys a year from Pakistan. Pakistan has an estimated donkey population of nearly six million. If for the past several thousand years, donkey breeding has been going on, then there is no justification for the Pakistani agrarian community as well as businessmen not to formidably enter this lucrative industry.

There is, of course, the imperative need to institutionalise donkey breeding. An ideal farm should have a competent veterinarian as well as a capable dietician along with staff who are well aware of healthcare, and nourishment. Protection of animals from the vagaries of nature must also be focused upon.

The government could introduce a policy of facilitative financial loans for the setting up of breeding farms, and announce a policy of export rebates for the industry. Special incentives could be provided for the manufacture of gelatine since value addition is crucial for a profitable business. This is a big opportunity and if Pakistan does not avail of this offer, the fault would rest not just on the government but also on Pakistani entrepreneurs.

The writer is a former president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.