Mohini Sharma
BVSc. And A.H. 4th year College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura
LIVESTOCK SECTOR:
To an agriculture –based developing country like INDIA, which is essentially and historically built around Villages, Farming and Livestock rearing lines, Livestock sector, is a vital sub sector of agriculture, which has emerged to ensure ecological balance more inclusive and sustainable development of agriculture system, along with. Rearing livestock, helps in providing household nutrition, supplementing incomes, capital storage, offering employment opportunities, mitigating rural poverty, empowering women , supporting farmers facing uncertainties of crop production by ensuring profitable returns; leading to the socio-economic development of the nation.
Being a regular source of additional income for more than 50% population of the country – the poor farmers , this sector is also contributing immensely towards the Nation’s GDP.As per the report of 70th round survey of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO),more than one-fifth(23 per cent) of agricultural households with very small parcels of land (less than 0.01hectare),had Livestock as their principal source of income.
BRIEF HISTORY
NEOLITHIC PERIOD:
Our ancestors, in the past also knew the importance and advantages of rearing livestock, and domestication of animals like dog, goat, pig, sheep, and cattle begun during Neolithic times. Farmers during 7000BC – 6000BC, reared sheep and goat in Mehrgarh, Kilegul –Muhammad and Damb Sadat places of North-Western region ( now , in Pakistan) .
During 6000BC -5000BC, farmers reared cattle, sheep and goat in Belan Valley, and Mahagara and Koldihwa region of Vindhan fringes in southern U.P.
During 2500BC, Farmers reared dog, goat, sheep, and cattle Burzahom, and Gufkral region of North –India Kashmir Valley.
Evidences also show that during 2000BC, cattle, sheep , and goat were reared in Middle Ganga Plain (North-Eastern Uttar Pradesh), in Ganga Plain (Northern Bihar), and in East Assam region.
ANCIENT INDIA
-HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION PERIOD (2500BC-1750BC):
Historical evidences, show that in ANCIENT INDIA, during the time of INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION , the HARAPPANS reared large herds of cattle, sheep, goat and buffalo and used to caught fish in Mohen –jo-daro and other areas . Agricultural products were also exported as a part of foreign trade.
-VEDIC PERIOD(1500BC- 600BC):
The remains and relics of VEDIC PERIOD, also reveal that there was a cow named “SURBHI” who used to be the highest milk producing cow of Lord KRISHNA’S EPIC PERIOD.
In LATER VEDIC PERIOD
(1000BC-600BC), books for treatment and welfare of animals were also written. Book “ASHWACHIKITSA” was written by “NAKUL” for the welfare of equines while the great cattle clinician “SAHADEV” wrote a book named “GAU-SAMHITA”. Land became more valuable than cows and so agriculture began to replace cattle rearing. At that time, the plough was at times drawn by 24 oxen.
Mythological books, paintings, inscriptions and scriptures are the indicators now that depict the livestock rearing practices of those times.
-MAURYA PERIOD (322BC -185 BC):
Even during the times of ASHOKA, The Emperor (273BC-232BC), farmers and herders used to provide animals and animal products as a tribute to Mauryan officials. The great ruler, also taught not to sacrifice animals unreasonably and to treat all creatures with compassion, he also arranged medical treatment for the animals. The sculpture of “RAMPURWA BULL”, part of a Mauryan pillar, has now been placed in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
MORDERN INDIA:
GANDHIAN ERA:
MAHATMA GANDHI, himself made many attempts for improving the pressing problems in agriculture sector, one such remarkable attempt was “SEVAGRAM EXPERIMENT” in Wardha to improve rural life.
THE FAMINE COMMISISION of 1901, recommended the appointment of experts to apply scientific methods at farm level.
ROYAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE , was set up in the year 1928,with an objective to promote development in Animal Husbandry Sector, to increase the milk production and to improve the quality of Milch cattle.
Over the marching decades, livestock production and management practices have witnessed remarkable progress, and evolved both personally and professionally. With the passage of time, rearing livestock species had different motives for different people. Some rear animals for livelihood, others rear for financial security, while for some livestock rearing was an ancestral occupation.
Various PRE-INDEPENDENT Projects and Programmes, as sporadic attempts were made in order to transfer technology to the people, which in turn altered and improved livelihood of rural people, few of them are -“SRINIKETAN PROGRAMME”(1921) in Bengal by SRI RABINDRA NATH TAGORE; Bhoodan Movement; Gurgaon Project by F. L.Brayne; Rural Reconstruction Scheme ; Marthendam Project; Etawah Pilot Project; Indian Village Service ; Firka Development Scheme etc.
POST-INDEPENDENT INDIA:
Many POST-INDEPENDENT PROGRAMMES, were launched , one such was the KEY VILLAGE SCHEME (KVS) in August 1952, which was the first systematic attempt to improve the quality and productivity of cattle and buffaloes of the country.
Along with the programmes like, Community Development Programme (CDP) in 1952, Intensive Cattle Development Project (ICDP) in 1964; Meat Food Product Order (MFPO) in 1973 ;Special Livestock Breeding Programme (SLBP) in1975-76;Milk and Milk Products Order (MMPO)in1992;Intensive Dairy Development Programme (IDDP) in 1993-97;National Project for Cattle Buffalo Breeding(NPCBB) in 2000;Livestock Insurance Scheme (LIS) in 2005-06; Rashtriya Gokul Mission in 2014, the “ INDEPENDENT NATION” witnessed the “WHITE REVOLUTION”, when “OPERATION FLOOD” was launched by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in three Phases as PHASE – I (1970 to 1981),PHASE-II (1981 TO 1985),PHASE-III (1985 to 1996).
EVOLVING LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT
Witnessing enumerable initiatives , schemes, varied methodologies, projects and programmes, along with the Development of different Departments of livestock sector, today India is World’s richest owner of Livestock with 535.78 million livestock population(according to 20th Livestock Census Report, 2019) and harbouring the enormous diversity of the livestock species .
Today, India is the largest producer of milk ,
Largest producer of the buffalo meat,
Second largest producer of goat meat,
Third largest producer of egg,
Fourth largest producer of poultry, and the
Fifth largest producer of meat in the world.
Undoubtedly, the overall production in the Livestock sector of the country has increased but are the present prevailing productivity rate of livestock , per animal production rate, improvement rate in the livelihood of those poor farmers, diminishing rate of rural farmer’s poverty , employment generation rate in the sector, the growth rate in the farmer’s income adequately enough for INDIA , to fulfill the demands of its own over-expanding population, or to export farm’s value added products to foreign countries, or to run progressively in the race of global competition in the upcoming years?
Today, as a developing nation we are flourishing , but the sector’s growth is currently way below what is required.
GROUND REALITY OF LIVESTOCK SECTOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION IN THE PRESENT TIMES :
LACK OF PRIORITISATION :
According to Department Of Animal Husbandry and Dairying(DAHD) , in 19th Livestock Census, there were 88 million In –Milk animals whose records were unavailable even on an annual basis. The vaccination, treatment, and productivity records of animals in Breeding stage, were also not maintained by State Animal Husbandry Departments.
INEFFICACY OF THE SCHEMES AND PROGRAMMES:
Careless behavior of any of the participant either Professionals or farmers may lead to the failure of schemes .Many national level launched programmes, like Digital India 2015,Make In India 2015, Skill India 2015, Startup India2015, and Stand-Up India 2015 have faced enumerable operational difficulties, for its efficacy at farm level and farmer level and that too at landless and marginal farmers level.
LACK OF PROPER EXTENSION ACTIVITIES :
The harsh and unfortunate reality of the scenario is that the Veterinary Research findings, the teaching in the Veterinary Institutes, various ongoing PRACTICAL PROJECTS in the field of Veterinary Science, are far apart from the poor livestock owners, marginal farmers, and landless labourers.
This, prevailing set of conditions and issues faced by farmers directly points out fingers at the improper extension activities .
EXCESSIVE RELIANCE OF FARMERS ON TRADITIONAL METHODS:
There is necessity of experience to perform a task, but it can not be considered as a substitute for the current scientific and applicable information. Due to excessive belief and dependence of farmers on their ancestral methods, they are unable to get aware of the latest informations, and techniques.
FEED AND FODDER AVAILABILITY:
Growing population and expanding urbanization are directly creating new challenges for the availability of sufficient Feed to the livestock and Bovine breeding systems .
ACCELERATED CLIMATE CHANGES :
Along with the climatic conditions, India has a rich biodiversity of livestock , and so, a particular farm practice of Jammu and Kashmir , can not be applied in the farm animals of Tamil Nadu. Also, Floods and drought could hit the productivity of the milch animals , by affecting the availability of water and fodder to the animals.
RAW PRODUCTS LEAD TO LESSER RETURNS:
Unaware and Less aware farmers and livestock owners , usually trade raw animal products , which in turn , generates lesser profits.
LACK OF PROPER MARKETING CHANNEL FOR THE FARMERS :
In India, resources and facilities of a proper DEMAND –SUPPLY market chain, are lacking, and hence many livestock owners face difficulties in minting the appropriate money, for their produce on a regular basis.
LACK OF FOREIGN TRADE OF PRODUCTS:
According to FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) , World milk production increased by 1.4 percent to about 852 Million Tonnes in 2019, and India produced 186 Million Tonnes of milk, but this had a little impact on the world dairy market as India trades only marginal quantities of milk and dairy products. Dairy exports , accounts for only 0.01 percent of the world dairy export market.
REFORMS TO BE PERFORMED , TO TRANSFORM :
Obviously, the agenda to expand access farmers is very challenging, and so the loopholes present in the system, decisively needs to be addressed methodically, with the Veterinary Professionals, Paraprofessionals and the related staff. This will require a well organized, systematic way to communicate in order to transfer the technology to the field.
PROPER EXTENSION ACTIVITIES, TO BE PERFORMED BY WELL-INFORMED EXTENSION AGENTS :
Being integral part of education, must be imparted from highly educated Professionals to the less educated ones –THE FARMERS . Today, valuable information, needs to be stretched out to the people of Rural INDIA, breaking the four walls of educational institutions to which, it is usually confined to.
With the intervention of Information Communication Technologies(ICT), quick communication of new knowledge to the students in the class rooms, extension personnels and farmers , is possible by using digital network, in order to boost farmer’s income.
This is possible only in a flexible system where the pace of ongoing growth of Veterinary Proffession has to assimilate the needs of a diverse range of farmers and livestock owners, and adapts itself to meet those requiring needs.
CONCEPT OF VALUE ADDITION:
The value addition of raw products, will not only be profitable for all those involved in Demand – Supply Chain, but that will also, support India in the global market.
EXPANSION OF TRADE INTO FOREIGN MARKETS:
Milk and meat are internationally traded mainly in the form of processed products , and hence the production of value added milk and meat products at a large scale is required to compete at global platform. This will generate higher income.
ORGANIC FARMING :
Due to increasing health conscious consumer awareness, and concerns for health related issues, there observed a paradigm shift in the food preferences of people, which are now vigorously shifted towards organic products. This in turn, is pushing , the prices of organic products towards the higher side.So, organic farming is also a good source for additional income.
SHARE OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES :
Regular interventions are required to raise the share of farm to non-farm activities and thereby income from 60:40 to 70:30 (including both agriculture and allied sectors).
INTRODUCTION OF FARM CLUSTERS :
Farm clusters with multiple facilities, have to be formed for specific regions of the country in order to create VALUE CHAIN. This will pave the way for Farming , Processing , Packaging , Marketing , Distribution and Storage ; Grading and Sorting (in case of wool production); of safe products at a particular place.
PROPER STORAGE FACILITIES FOR RAW AND PROCESSED PRODUCTS:
Proper storage and warehouse facilities, will not only preserve the nutritional value and reduce the wastage of the product but it will also increase the shelf-life and improve the market availability of the animal product throughout the year .
PROPER RECORD KEEPING AT FARM LEVEL:
Maintenance of proper record is essential for both small and large scale livestock owners , for calculating the production and productivity rates.
GROWTH AT EVERY STAGE WITH PROPER INTERVENTION OF ADMINISTRATION:
Psychological acceptance of the “Philosophy of Service”, and strict measures, are required at all stages, in order to grow as
“ONE-NATION”
INTRODUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ADAPTIVE GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES :
Various policy measures, programmes have been introduced by the Government of India, in order to encourage farmers for entrepreneurship in livestock sector. However, further methodologies are required , to increase the
EFFICACY OF IMPLEMENTATION at small and marginal farmers level.
A Concrete Road –Map towards the “Developed India” will only be constructed when with substantial increase in the animal productivity, there is introduction of upheavels in the ongoing growth potential for the farm and farmers of the country.
Growth of Livestock sector , will serve as the “economic engine” towards the goals like “DOUBLING FARMERS INCOME BY 2020” towards “AATMNIRBHAR BHARAT”.
