How to increase the income of livestock farmers in India: Recommendation of various interventions & Suggestions
Dr.Kinkar Debbarma,
M.V.Sc. Scholar,
Animal Reproduction Gynaecology and Obstetrics,
ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute –Eastern Regional Station,
Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal- 741235
Email Id: kinkardbrma@gmail.com
Abstract:
India has gone through both green and white revolution post independence, but till today the condition of farmers hasn’t improved significantly. Farmers are still striving for suitable prices of the commodities and are getting exploited by vicious money mongers. Animal Husbandry sector contributes the most to improve the financial status of farmers. There should be improvement of breeds, animal feed and nutrition, health management, better breeding policy, extension and training programme, rate of artificial insemination and proper dissemination of knowledge regarding livestock rearing among farmers. Resourceful persons can guide farmers regarding modification of the existing rearing system, induction of higher germplasm, integrated farming methodologies. Co-operative societies and self help groups (SHGs) with skilled members can enhance the income of farmers with the help of modern technologies.
Key Words: Co-operative societies, Financial status, Livestock farmer, Self help groups
Introduction:
“India’s Place in the Sun Would Come from the Partnership between Wisdom of its Rural People and Skill of its Professionals” -Dr Verghese Kurien, father of the white revolution. India was born in hunger, scarred by famines and malnourishment after freedom from a long-standing colonial rule. Post-independence developmental strategies to overcome food shortage around the mid-1960s focused only on raising agricultural output and ameliorate food security standards. The adoption of the Green and White revolution made India not only a self-sufficient nation but also a net food exporting country. However, these strategies focused very little on promoting farmer’s welfare and increasing their income. Most of the rural farmers associated with the agriculture and livestock sector are having low income, even lesser than the poverty line. As per the statistics of National Crime Records Bureau, in 2019, there are 10281 farmers’ dies by suicide. This is the alarming rate of farmer’s suicide is a sign of distress among farmers of the country. The current goal set by the government aims to promote the welfare and double the income of farmers by around the next quinquennium. Allied sectors of agriculture such as dairy farming, poultry rearing, and fishery will be of crucial importance towards the fulfilment of the established aim of doubling farmer’s income.
Livestock farming is an integral part of agriculture in India. It plays a significant role as a source of income and livelihood of farmers. It forms the backbone of agriculture and contributes around 25.6% to agriculture GDP, which remained strong even amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and growing steady at a rate of around 7%. India boasts a significant population of livestock and ranks 1st and buffalo, 2nd in cattle and goat, 3rd in sheep, 5th in pig, 8th in duck, and 9th in camel population. Unfortunately, the productivity of livestock is not as lofty as the population in the country. The dairy sector is a vital part of the rural livestock scenarios and is a tool to diminish poverty and unemployment, especially in rural India. The average yield per animal per day for exotic/crossbred cattle is 7.95 kg per day and for indigenous/non-descript is 3.01 kg per day. It is significantly less than the average milk yield of the best global standard countries such as the UK, US, and Israel. In the dairy sector, growth in the milk sector and milk production is due to the increase in the cattle population. Owing to the majority of small–scale rural farmers in India, low productivity can influence a significant drop in farmer’s income. Thus, this type of growth associated with increasing the population of livestock isn’t sustainable in the long run. Improvement of breeds, animal fed and nutrition, better health management, and proper dissemination of knowledge regarding livestock rearing among farmers are essential for raising livestock productivity. The various interventions and implementations that can be recommended are:
Breeding policy and programmes:
A proper breeding policy needs to be framed for the drafting of breeds suitable for the varied agro-climatic conditions of the country and expand the artificial insemination (AI) coverage. The AI coverage in India barely crossed 40% due to deficiency of frozen semen straws, thus leading to poor productivity. Prices of semen straws have been reduced to boost AI coverage, and plans for increasing semen straws are en route to achieving 50% AI coverage by 2021-22. Around 140 million doses of semen straws are required to reach the desired level of AI therefore setting up new semen stations and up-gradation of existing stations is crucial for achieving the desired goal. Genetic up gradation could be a way for improving the yield of local cattle by cross-breeding with high yielding exotic breeds. Inspiration should be taken from countries like Brazil that successfully incorporated desi zebu breeds into successful high yielding breeds such as Indu-Brasil (Brazilian x Zebuine), Girlando (Gir x Holstein), and Guzerat (Kankrej x Crioulo).
Feed and fodders:
The productivity of livestock is also hampered by a shortage of the adequate amount of feed and fodder. The fodder deficit in terms of green fodder, dry fodder, and the concentrate is expected to increase up to 40 million tonnes (MT), 21 MT, and 38 MT by 2025, according to NIANP (National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology). Non-cropped areas in the agricultural land should be used for cultivating high-yielding fodder crops such as maize, berseem, oats, Napier, and cowpeas. Expensive sources of nutrients like soybean meal could be replaced with cheaper alternatives that are available locally to reduce the feed cost. Alternate and unconventional feed sources such as azolla, Moringa leaves, and insect meals could be incorporated to minimize production cost. The feeding of silage, complete feed blocks, and cultivation using innovations like hydroponics are some of the approaches to meet the nutritional deficit of livestock and improve productivity of livestock. Value addition can be done to produce value added products that fetches higher price in market thus improving income status of farmers. Designer meat and eggs are example of value addition by manipulating feed nutrient achieved by feeding nutrient enriched feeds such as flax seeds, trace minerals, vitamins, omega -3 (n-3) fatty acids, antioxidants, etc. establishment of feed and fodder bank and cooperatives can help balance the price hike in case of any natural disaster or period of feed shortage.
Farming system:
Adopting integrated farming system and diversification of livestock farming will improve the income of farmers. It’ll decrease the rearing and feeding cost, whereas the income source will be doubled. Model integrated farming system includes examples such as duck cum rice farming, broiler cum fish farming, piggery cum fish farming, etc. Poultry can be reared under backyard system for scavenging system. Desi and native breeds of poultry reared under backyard system fetches higher price due to preference among locals and being closer to organic farming. Some of the poultry breeds suitable for scavenging system are CARI Nirbhik, Upcari, Hitcari, etc.
Veterinarian’s role:
The number of veterinarians assigned should also be increased to strengthen the livestock health and management sector. Scientific and sustainable rearing should be followed to increase the income of dairy sector farmers. Veterinarians can disseminate knowledge about good animal husbandry practices, livestock policies, breeding, and disease prevention and mitigation protocols. Effective immunization and disease control programmes like FMD- control programme for important economical diseases should be implemented to prevent losses due to disease outbreak. Veterinarians in premiere research institutes and universities such as IVRI, NDRI, IARI, GADVASU, And TANUVAS, are working relentlessly on various fields related to animal and livestock farming for the benefit of livestock farmers and nation as a whole. Veterinarians can act as bridge between policy makers and farmers to exchange the issues and solutions in bidirectional way.
Government policy and support:
The government should provide subsidies and minimum support prices (MSP) for livestock farmers to relieve financial pressure and distress. Incentives and loans at lower interest could be provided to farmers for establishment of livestock farms. This will also prevent the farmers from unorganised money market and loan sharks. Insurance for livestock should be provided to help the farmers financially in case of something unexpected.
Public-private partnership (PPP):
Public-private partnership is a cooperative between public and private sectors so as to provide services to the population. Combining the competencies of various stakeholders will create a greater impact. PPP can provide opportunities and assets for the convenience of marginalised and small-scale, resource poor farmers. Farmers, themselves will be an integral part of PPP model and will cater for a holistic growth of all the stakeholders involved in the partnership. Examples of PPPs in livestock sector in Indian scenario are GALVmed providing healthcare to animals of poor livestock farmers, NSPDT providing training to youth and women on poultry rearing and vaccination, and BAIF-JK Trust providing AI services through integrated livestock research centers.
Extension and training:
Proper and constant training of farmers regarding feeding, breeding, health, management, up-gradation, and utilization of new technologies should be provided regularly so that the farmers gain knowledge and skills efficiently. Co-operative societies and self help groups (SHGs) are to be formed and training could be provided at regular interval to acquire required skills and institution for starting livestock farming. Women, particularly will be beneficiary of such training and can start poultry, small ruminant or even a small scale dairy farming. In the current age of information and communication technology (ICT), dissemination of knowledge has become much easier from before. Development of ICT based knowledge management system can extend all the livestock farming related information and queries to the farmers on time by just a click or call.
Conclusion:
As quoted – “If the farmer is rich, then so is the nation”, upliftment and development of rural farmers will strengthen the economy and reduce the margin of income disparity among various sections of the country. India boasts a massive number of livestock population and manpower, thus, increasing the farmers income twofold is not impossible but definitely an uphill struggle. “A farmer is a magical machine who can convert the soil into home or crop”. A proper collaboration and harmony should exist between ministry, private sector, and farmers to tackle any grave situation.
References:
- BAHS. 2019. Basic Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Statistics. Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
- Doubling Farmers’ income. 2017. National Institution for Transforming India, Government of India, New Delhi
- National Action Plan for Egg & Poultry-2022 For Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries ,Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare ,Government of India
