Atmanirbhar Bharat: Harnessing The Potential Of The Livestock Sector For Food Safety And Financial Security

Ajay Ranjit Sawant. AAFP and FFPC Certified UG Scholar, BVSc and AH

Affiliated with: Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur

University: Rajasthan University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Bikaner (RAJUVAS)

Correspondence email: ajaysawantdvm@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The nutrition, food security, livelihoods, and resilience of hundreds of millions of people worldwide depend on animal products. Over the next three decades, both the demand for and the price of animal products are expected to rise. An increase in animal-derived production can put a great strain on natural resources if not managed carefully, causing an economic, resource, and health catastrophe.

Since the Indian economy heavily depends on livestock and agriculture production, this is especially true for our country. As India falls under the tropical zone, we are blessed with a huge natural wealth. Livestock forms a major part of the lives of most people in the country. We rank first in the total buffalo population (109.85 million), second in the world goat population (148.88 million), and third and fifth in the world sheep (74.26 million) and poultry population (851.81 million). At present, India has the highest livestock in the world, with about 535.78 million animals being reared (20th Livestock Census).

Resources for raising livestock are more evenly distributed than those for cultivating land and are increasingly concentrated among small landowners. Thus, the business provides a great economic asset to poor farmers across the country. Unfortunately, poor management practices, infrastructure, reach of technology, breeding practices, and unorganised markets continue to remain prevalent among the owners, resulting in low productivity and loss. Overcoming this negative aspect can greatly help the country in boosting its economy while decreasing the poverty rate.

Keywords: Livestock improvement, Economics, Animal Agriculture, Food Security, Health Security, One Health

INTRODUCTION

According to the 20th Livestock Census, livestock contributes 16% to the income of small farm households, as against an average of 14% for all rural households. Two thirds of rural farm households depend on livestock for their safety income, and livelihoods (Birthal 2008). Additionally, it employs about 8.8% of India’s population. Therefore, raising livestock is crucial for smallholders to maintain stable livelihoods and avoid both food insecurity and poverty. The livestock sector contributes 4.11% to GDP and 25.6% of the total agriculture GDP of the nation, playing an important role in its development.

Consumption of foods derived from animals tends to rise as people’s incomes rise. The process is aided by increasing nutrient requirements and awareness among the population. This has led to an ever-increasing demand for animal products in the past few years. In recent decades, consumption of animal meat and milk in developing countries has risen by 5% and 4%, respectively, per year, creating an ever increasing demand for larger production (Steinfeld H. & Chilonda P. 2006). Unfortunately, the current trends in India seem to be inclined towards improving the herd population instead of management and breeding strategies, which remains the main concern.

Nutrition:  

India is the number one milk producer. In the 2020–21 fiscal year, it produced 209.96 million tons of milk. In a similar vein, it generated 8.80 million tonnes of meat and 122.05 billion eggs. With the current trends in fitness and wellness, the consumption and production of animal products is just prone to increase with time.

Animal derived food products are high in protein and a variety of other nutrients, improving the diets of both consumers and producers. Animal products provide about 36 percent of the total calorie content of the food supply while contributing more than a third of the iron, thiamine, vitamin A, and magnesium content; and a half of the niacin, riboflavin, and vitamin B6 content followed by over 70 percent of the zinc content. Additionally, they contribute nearly 100% of the vitamin B12 content and more than 80% of the calcium content.

Animal products like meat and eggs are especially popular for their high protein content. These products are rich in the eight important amino acids that cannot be synthesised by the human body. They have a higher bioavailability compared to any other available source, making them a preferred source of intake. Milk, eggs, and meat also have a strong nutrition profile in terms of vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, phosphorus, niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamine, and vitamin A, making them an ideal source of nourishment. Egg is infact termed as foodstuff with golden biological.

Contribution of livestock

Socio-economic contribution: As per the 20th Livestock Census, India has the highest livestock population in the world, with over 535.78 million animals being reared at present. Thus, a major part of the population is dependent on animals and animal products for their daily income. In addition to milk, meat, and eggs, livestock also contributes to leather, hides, wool, fibers, and bones. Leather, in particular, has a high export value and can significantly help in the boosting of the national economy.

India is a country with a huge disparity in the economic status of people in rural and urban areas. Thus, despite the development in technology, draft animals such as bullocks, camels, donkeys, and horses remain the bare backbone of farming. Draft animals are flexible over varied topographies and can significantly reduce fuel costs and environmental pollution. Many families in India rely on their livestock for supplemental income, particularly those with limited resources. Animals also serve as financial resources to safeguard their future and meet urgent needs.

From a social standpoint, animals promote gender equality and increase literacy. In the production of livestock, women fill more than three-fourths of the labour demand. In Punjab and Haryana, where dairying is prevalent and animals are stall-fed, the percentage of women employed in the livestock sector is roughly 85–90%. A farmer’s improved financial statement has a direct impact on the education of his children.

Contribution to the Indian Economy: The value of output of the livestock sector at current prices is 12,60,167 crores from 2019-20 (NAS, 2021). According to the 68th Round Survey on Employment and Unemployment by the NSSO, 16.44 million workers were employed in the industries of mixed farming, aquaculture, fishing, and animal farming. Milk production in the country increased to 209.96 million tonnes in 2020–21 with a yearly growth rate of 5.81%, resulting in per capita availability of 427 grams/day. The production of meat and eggs, meanwhile, was 8.80 million tonnes and 122.05 billion, respectively, with annual growth rates of 2.32% and 6.70%. In the same duration, the per capita availability has increased to 90 eggs and 6.52 kg of meat per annum.

Contribution of different states: Uttar Pradesh ranked first in the national milk production with 31.36 million tonnes (18%), followed by Rajasthan (11%), Andhra Pradesh (10%), and Gujrat (8%). Karnataka has witnessed the highest growth with 21.09%, while Punjab showed the highest per capita milk availability with 1219 grams per day.

India is the second largest producer of eggs in the world. In 2020-21, Arunachal Pradesh remained the state with the highest per capita availability (475 eggs/annum) and production (24.96 billion eggs). This is followed by the production in Tamil Nadu (20.12 billion). Sikkim noticed the highest rise in production with a 103.28% increase.

India is the eighth largest producer of meat. It ranks first in the production of carabeef and second in the production of chevon. In 2020-21 meat production was highest in the state of Maharashtra (1.11 million tonnes), followed by Uttar Pradesh (1.04 million tonnes). The per capita availability was highest in Telangana, with 24.56 kg per annum.

Overcoming food insecurity and sustainable production:

Rapid growth in livestock production can bring along significant environmental impacts. To keep the level of environmental damage from getting worse than it already is, the environmental costs per unit of livestock production must be cut in half (Steinfeld et al.). Unfortunately, the current approach towards animal-based nutrients is dual-faceted with multiple managemental flaws. An increase in herd sizes across the country instead of production means an increased stress on natural resources. The production of a litre of milk from two cows instead of one can greatly increase the wastage of resources, which is unsustainable and poses economic challenges to farm owners across the country. This type of production also utilises twice the amount of water, increases the nutrient load on land due to overfertilization, and creates three times the amount of greenhouse gases. In the process of creating nutrients, we end up damaging our environment and causing the country a larger loss than profits in the long run. Intensive and semi-intensive management of animals driven by successful animal nutrition, breeding of genetically efficient stock, and employing proper management practices can greatly assist in overcoming these challenges.

Feed is one of the highest expenses in animal agriculture. Thus, efficient utilisation of feed according to the animal’s requirements and production value is very important. This ensures efficient utilisation and least environmental damage. Nitrogen in urine is the most polluting, followed by CO2 and methane. It causes eutrophication of water bodies. As algae forms and dies, there is a depletion of O2 from the water, leading to hypoxia in aquatic animals.

Meat-producing ruminant animals are less efficient than meat-producing simple-stomach animals. This makes responsible dairy and beef farming important.

Source: Penn State Agriculture University (2016)

Intensive farming of ruminants can make them as efficient as the production of pigs and broilers in terms of both costs and ecological concerns. When rumen nitrogen is not easily converted into protein, more nitrogen is excreted through urine and ammonia. Since ammonia is volatile, it can also prove lethal through aerosols and contamination.

When fertilising lands with manure, ammonia loss and undesired contamination can be decreased by manure injection instead of spraying it on the soil. Thus, agriculture and animals are complementary to each other. Meanwhile, phosphorus has a completely opposite mechanism. It causes eutrophication due to accumulation and zero evaporation tendency. Therefore, phosphorus in lactating dairy cows should be no more than 0.38% to avoid its excretion (NRC, 1989). Phosphorous resources are also limited, so conservation of the mineral is of utmost importance.

Feed and genetic modification for sustainable production: By managing grazing, increasing the composition of legumes, and utilising species that contain secondary metabolites that affect methanogenesis in the rumen, such as tannins or saponins, it is possible to reduce methane emissions for the cow herd (Beauchemin et al., 2008 and 2009).  According to Basarab JA et al. (2013), selection for feed efficiency using residual traits or one of its constituent traits such as DMI, BW, ADG, and backfat in a multi-trait selection index will result in a slow, incremental improvement in feed efficiency and methane emission intensity with minimal adverse effects on economically significant traits.

One Health in association with Animal Food Security

 Contrary to crop agriculture, animal agriculture poses a serious risk to public health due to the potential emergence of zoonotic diseases and drug resistance.  Poor management techniques have an impact on both production and the economy of a nation because they increase healthcare costs. Thus, following the One Health protocols while producing animal products plays an important role in building the country’s health and economy. The One Health approach focuses on the long-term sustainability of our planet’s natural resources; the provision of safe access to nourishing food at all times; the protection of global public health; and the resilience of the livelihoods of poor communities when faced with numerous stressors or shocks.

Successful implementation of One Health strategies ensures immunity against fatal and potentially fatal outbreaks like anthrax, monkeypox, brucellosis, listeriosis, and various coronavirus strains. Additionally, it decreases the chances of  antibiotic resistance and improves sustainable target drug usage.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

 Despite having the largest livestock population in the world, India’s share in global milk and meat production in 2018 remained at 19% and 3%, respectively. This demonstrates that the per capita productivity of our animals is significantly lower than that of their counterparts in developed nations.

Animal agriculture forms an important part of the Indian economy and has a huge scope for improvement to increase productivity. It serves an auxiliary function alongside crop farming. Birthal and Taneja (2006) noted that growth in livestock production was due to both an increase in the number of animals and their yield levels. Thus, implementation of proper management strategies, slaughter policies, and funding schemes, followed by modern technological, breeding, and one health program strategies (such as vaccinations and deworming), can significantly increase the nation’s food and health security, while increasing its economic output and productivity. These strategies will also aid in uplifting the nation’s poor agricultural population, while reducing the gender equality gap, poverty rate, and illiteracy rate.

REFERENCES:

1. Basarab J. A., Beauchemin K. A., Baron V. S., Ominski K. H., Guan L. L., Miller S. P., et al. (2013). Reducing GHG Emissions through Genetic Improvement for Feed Efficiency: Effects on Economically Important Traits and Enteric Methane Production. animal 7, 303–315. 10.1017/S1751731113000888
2. Birthal P S. (2008). Livestock sector of India: An overview. Background paper prepared for ‘India Livestock Review’ by the World Bank.
3. Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. (2019). 20th Livestock https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1588304 (asof 02–8-2022)
4. Steinfeld H. & Chilonda P. (2006). Old players, new players. In Livestock Report 2006. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome, 3–14.
5. Jeff Mulhollem. (2016). World’s livestock industry offers huge potential for greenhouse gas reduction. The Penn State University. https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/worlds-livestock-industry-offers-huge-potential-greenhouse-gas-reduction/ (asof 29-07-2022)
6. NRC. (1989). Phosphorus Requirements, Sources, and Excretion in Dairy Cows. https://lpelc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/L12_sec4.pdf

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