UPSC Mains – Examine the role of livestock rearing in the Indian economy, considering that animal farming is predominantly practiced as a supplementary or complementary activity integrated with agriculture. (15M, 250 Words)

Introduction:

In the fiscal year 2022-23, the livestock sector contributed 30.1% to Agricultural GDP and 4.35% to the national GDP. India’s agricultural landscape follows a Mixed Farming model, combining crop cultivation with livestock raising. This integration serves as an additional income source, providing gainful employment, especially benefiting landless laborers, small-scale farmers, and women.

Body:

Role of Livestock Rearing in the Indian Economy:

Farmers’ Economy:

• Income: Livestock significantly contributes to small farm households, constituting 16% of their income, surpassing the rural household average of 14%. Activities like selling milk and animals provide additional income.
• Employment: Livestock activities support two-thirds of the rural community, employing about 9% of the total population in India.
• Food: Livestock products, including milk, meat, and eggs, serve as crucial sources of animal protein for livestock owners.
• Social Security: Livestock ownership enhances social status, providing social security, particularly benefiting landless families.
• Draft Animal: Bullocks play a pivotal role in Indian agriculture, especially for marginal and small farmers, serving in plowing, carting, and transportation.
• Dung: Livestock dung serves multiple purposes in rural areas, including fuel, fertilizer, and plastering material.

Poverty Alleviation:

1. Livestock rearing significantly contributes to reducing rural poverty, particularly in states like Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.

Nutritional Security:

1. Livestock products, with high nutritional value, enhance overall nutritional security, providing essential products like milk, dairy, eggs, and meat.

Gender Equity:

1. Animal husbandry promotes gender equality, with more than three-fourths of labor demand in livestock production met by women, reaching around 90% in Punjab and Haryana.

Inclusive Growth:

1. Livestock ownership is more equitable than land ownership, with small farmers possessing over half of the country’s cattle compared to 24% of land ownership.

Issues Related to Livestock in India:

1. Transparency Deficiency: Almost half of the country’s livestock remains unclassified, and the livestock product markets lack development and transparency, often dominated by informal market intermediaries.
2. Escalating Animal Diseases: The prevalence of communicable diseases among animals is rising, exemplified by the recent outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle.
3. Insufficient Extension Services: Inadequate attention to livestock extension contributes to lower productivity in India’s livestock sector.

Government Incentives:

1. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF): Offers a 3% interest subsidy and credit guarantee for borrowers.
2. National Livestock Mission (NLM): Focuses on entrepreneurship development and breeds improvement in poultry, sheep, goat, and piggery, encompassing feed and fodder development.
3. Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH & DC) Scheme: Focuses on preventing, controlling, and containing economically and zoonotically significant animal diseases through vaccination.
4. National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP): Aims at controlling Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis through complete vaccination.

Way Forward:

1. Registration of New Breeds: Collaboration to document all animal genetic resources, promoting breed diversity.
2. Veterinary Ambulance Service and Livestock Vaccination: Expansion of veterinary ambulance services and mandatory livestock primary vaccination for overall animal health.
3. One-Health Approach: Embracing a One Health Approach acknowledges the interconnectedness of people, animals, plants, and the environment, fostering health sustainability and addressing zoonotic diseases effectively.

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