The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) recently emphasized the importance of identifying the large number of indigenous livestock breeds in India to enhance the agricultural and animal husbandry sector. This call occurred at the Ceremony for Distribution of Animal Breed Registration Certificates. This article assesses the status of India’s Livestock Sector, issues related to livestock in India, government initiatives aimed at boosting the sector, and recommendations for future growth.
The State of India’s Livestock Sector
Animal husbandry has deep roots in India’s agriculture, playing a vital role as a livelihood for a significant part of the population. India’s rich livestock biodiversity features many breeds adapted to varying climatic conditions. From 2014 to 2021, the livestock sector grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.9%, raising its contribution to total agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) from 24.3% to 30.1%.
Aside from their financial benefits, livestock provide food, income, and employment to rural families. They also act as an insurance against crop failures, with the quantity of livestock owned by a farmer influencing social standing within their community. Dairy farming, which employs 80 million farmers directly, is the single-largest agri commodity in India, contributing 5% to the national economy.
Recognised Indigenous Livestock Species
Recently, ICAR registered ten new breeds of livestock species, pushing the total number of indigenous breeds to 212. The newly registered breeds include cattle from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Meghalaya; goats from Rajasthan; pigs from Jharkhand, Manipur, and Meghalaya; and buffalo from Maharashtra.
Challenges in the Livestock Industry
Despite the sector’s growth and potential, challenges persist. Nearly half of India’s livestock is unclassified, and the country’s livestock product markets are underdeveloped and lack transparency. The sector is also grappling with rising animal diseases, like the outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle across various Indian states. Furthermore, livestock extension services have been widely overlooked, contributing to low productivity.
Government Schemes for Livestock Sector
The government has introduced schemes to boost the livestock sector, including the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), providing borrowers with a 3% interest subvention and credit guarantee up to 25% of total borrowing. It also launched the National Livestock Mission (NLM) focusing on entrepreneurship development, breed improvement, feed and fodder development.
Additionally, the Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) Scheme has been implemented to prevent, control, and contain economically significant and zoonotic animal diseases. The National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) vaccinates livestock against Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis.
Boosting India’s Livestock Sector
To further enhance the sector, initiatives like ICAR’s mission of documenting animal genetic resources in collaboration with various stakeholders can play an essential role. Also, the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) began notifying all registered breeds in the Gazette since 2019 to claim sovereignty over these indigenous breeds.
Other measures include expanding veterinary ambulance services, mandating primary livestock vaccination, and conducting regular veterinary surveillance in a time-bound manner. Recognizing the One Health Approach, which considers the interconnection between people, animals, plants, their shared environment, and encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration can contribute to sustainable health and tackling zoonotic diseases. These measures would significantly galvanize the development and growth of India’s livestock sector.
