How to increase the income of livestock farmers in India: STRATEGY & SUGGESTIONS
Dr.Sunil Kr.Sinha (M.V.Sc.)1*
1*- Regn. No. V.C.I. / 001651, Pet Care Clinic Devgiri Apartment, New A.G colony, Kadru,
Ranchi-834002, Jharkhand
‘The best translator is the one who can translate someone’s silence into smile. In the context with the Indian farmers it would be our finest contribution if we can improve their socio- economic conditions, their earnings and put smile on their faces.’
Agriculture is the largest enterprise in the country, and it can survive only if it can grow consistently. Even in covid situation, we have seen a positive swing in this sector which contributed to 3% of GDP. According to vikaspedia , Livestock plays an important role in Indian economy with about 20.5 million people depending upon livestock for their livelihood. Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm households as against an average of 14% for all rural households. Livestock provides livelihood to two-third of rural community and contributes 4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP.
Data Source-abcofagri.com
As can be inferred from the graph above that if we compare 1993-94 with the year 2011-12, despite the reduction in share of Agiculture and allied sector to output as well as the employmentit still it contributes to about fifty percent or half of employment and hence its role in Indian economy.
Another important aspect is the net return Livestock farmers get from the sector. The net return determines the level of the income of an entrepreneur, farmer in this case. And this explains the rationale behind adoptions income enhancement approach to farmers welfare. At the basic level Livestock enterprise comprise of two segments –
- Production
- Post Production
How to increase production is solely based upon the improved practices of Animal- Husbandry viz. Scientific breeding and management of animals, quality feeding and timely treatment of animals if required. But this production is only half success and therefore not sustainable. So measures taken after Post Production is the real key behind increasing income of the farmers.
Three factors are to be considered when we talk of increasing income –
- Productivity gains
- Reduction in cost of production
- Getting remunerative price of the
To achieve all this strategic outcome, we should focus on four concerns-
- Sustainability of Production
- Monetisation of produce
- Re-strengthening of extension services
- Recognising Livestock farming as an enterprise and enabling it to operate as such by addressing various structural
Efforts made to achieve higher productivity will shift the productivity curve and can be translated to income curve.
Initiatives undertaken to achieve resource use efficiency will result in greater resource saving and cost saving. One can shift to non-conventional feeding practices thereby saving major percentage in rearing of animals. Much research has been published on non-conventional feeds and their availability region wise.
One of the best practices of feeding cost effectively is to use Moringa leaves which is abundantly available throughout our country with having high nourishing value.
And finally measures taken to improve marketing efficiency will yield higher returns on output. To this there is need for –
- Formation of Market Committees
- Integration of farmers with processors, exporters, bulk retailers and
- Setting up and operating Private wholesale market yards so as to enhance competitions among different markets and market players for the farmers
- Promotion of national market for
Apart from this, other factors that affect the income enhancement of farmers include –
- Encouraging research that directly influence the productivity and their direct implementations to the micro level, i.e. Lab to Land Programme. To this we must cite Embryo transfer Techniques (ETT) which is now in practice in some parts of our country.
- Adoption of mixed farming practice. A farmer should be encouraged to rear cows, goats, poultry and fish along with cultivation so that continuity of source of income always be there even in extreme conditions of
- Encouraging contract livestock farming. An agreement between farmers or group of farmers and contract farming sponsors who offers to purchase livestock or their produce as per conditions laid down in the
The sponsor has to purchase all their produce as per pre-determined price and also the sponsor may support the production/rearing activity through supply of inputs, feed, technical advice or any other activity thereto, as mentioned in the agreement.
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN INCREASING THE PROFITABILITY OF LIVESTOCK FARMERS–
More and more financial support by government via various schemes, vaccination programmes, disease surveillance and monitoring tools, Online registration portal, increased A.I., Sex sorted semen, training programmes are all meant to strengthen livestock farmers in the near future. Few important programmes are as follows {Source-PressReleaseIf }-
- NATIONAL ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAMME FOR FMD AND BRUCELLOSIS
The Government has launched a new scheme National Animal Disease Control Programme for FMD and Brucellosis with a financial outlay of Rs. 13,343.00 crore for five years (2019-20 to 2023-24) by vaccinating 100% cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population for FMD and 100% bovine female calves of 4-8 months of age for brucellosis to prevent loss of Rs. 50,000 crore to the Government exchequer and also to increase the economic output of farmers.
- NATIONWIDE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION PROGRAMME (NAIP)
- Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme for 20,000 bovine per district for 600 districts in the country was recently launched by the Government in September, 2019 which is one of the largest such programmes with 100% central assistance for undertaking breed improvement.
- QUALITY MILK PROGRAMME
DAHD launched Quality Milk Programme on 24.07.2019 with the objectives to achieve Global(Codex)standards for domestic consumption of milk and ensuring traceability & increasing share of milk and milk products in world exports.
INAPH is an infrastructure to implement progeny testing programme including nominated mating programme to produce future bulls and measure aforesaid variables. INAPH helps in collection, assimilation and processing of massive data on a national level.
CONCLUSION-
On concluding note, it might be mentioned that livestock is an indispensible part of primary , secondary as well as tertiary sector directly and or indirectly. It provides for the nutritional as well as economic security of the masses. Scientific rearing of the livestock, financial security by the financial government as well as NGOs, Application based research, more involvement of extension workers, and literacy and education of farmers will definitely make livestock farming more lucrative as well as profitable in the upcoming decades in India.
