INCREASING INCOME OF LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN INDIA: FOCUS AREAS
Dr. Abhishek Kumar, Ph.D. Scholar
Germ-Plasm Centre, Division of Animal Reproduction
ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122
E-mail: abhiawadhesarita@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION
Livestock are raised by the farmers for production and to generate income as a source of livelihood. It includes species that vary with the countries as poultry and fish are not included in the livestock category according to USDA. Macro livestock species include mainly Cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and camels. But, chickens, ducks, quails and fishes can be included as these are used for meat and egg production. Horses are used for recreation purposes like horse riding and horse racing. Micro livestock include bees, rodents and rabbits. Farmers are dependent on livestock for food products like milk, meat, eggs and honey as well as for non-food products like wool, hair, fur, hides and bones. Unlike developed countries, livestock animals are discretely reared by farmers in India and approximately 70% of farmers are medium or marginal with merely 2 to 3 animals to suffice their daily household requirements. Only 30 % are progressive know well about their animals and raise the animals in herds for profit. Considering this fact, following are the points that need to be focused on increasing the income of livestock farmers in India.
Awareness
Livestock farmers should have concerns and complete knowledge about their animals. They should prioritize and treat their animals in the most comfortable way to avoid stresses like environmental stress, nutritional stress, managemental stress and lactational stress. They should have knowledge about nutritional requirements in different physiological states of the animals and accordingly should have proper stock considering seasonal variation in availability of forages. Mainly two reproductive problems in large ruminants are encountered in clinics i.e. anoestrus and repeat breeding. In my experience, these are mostly due to lack of knowledge and concerns. Most of the dairy farmers don’t even know basic things like actual feeding, deworming and vaccination schedules; estrus duration and gestation length; behavioural signs during estrus and parturition; proper timing of AI and pregnancy detection. They are satisfied with merely 2-3 litres of milk per day per animal that suffice their family requirements. It is the duty of extension officers or veterinarians to educate them which also depends on curiosity and concern of farmers towards their animals. Mainly females and children who are more attached should be educated regarding all these aspects as they are the backbone of the dairy industry. Farmers should be taught about different aspects of income generation from livestock rearing and should be motivated to do so. Integrated crop-livestock systems like cash crops, cover crops with cattle rearing and integrated livestock species systems like cattle and sheep, cattle and goat, pig and poultry; these multi species systems can be suggested to improve the pasture and increase the productivity. For instance, animals’ excreta can be used as fertilizer for plants and biogas for cooking and lighting. They should also be taught about permaculture, silvopasture, regenerative cultivation, agro forestry and pasture-based livestock management. Silvopasture which integrates livestock with forests can be used to counterbalance ozone depleting substance emanations from cows and to safeguard water and soil.
Animal health and infertility camps should be organized at village level every week and villagers should be addressed with audio visual aids along with some attractive prizes to make the programme more attractive and influential. They should be made aware of the latest innovations and technologies which are beneficial, convenient, and cheaper, through training or camps organized by Krishi vigyan Kendra. These all require selfless efforts and dedication by veterinarians and gradual improvement can be observed with time. Farmers, who get involved in this process, are more developed and self sustained dairy farmers as observed in states like Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat.
Government Role
India is the largest producer of milk in the world with 191 MMT annual productions and per capita availability of milk is 394 grams / day which is greater than ICMR recommendations. This was possible due to a crossbreeding programme for genetic upgradation of indigenous breeds. But, due to continuous focus on crossbreeding in attempts to increase milk yield, our indigenous breeds were less emphasized or less concerned through the years. Now, the Government of India has launched many programmes, policies and schemes to conserve and improve the productivity of our indigenous breeds. Being superior due to better adaptability, disease-resistance and feed efficiency, it became a mandate for Indian government to focus more on indigenous breeds for enhancing the milk production through rigorous selection in breeding programmes as same gir cows under name Gyr are the highest milk producers in Brazil. One such programme i.e. Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) was launched in 2014 with a fund of Rs 2025 crore allocated for development and conservation of indigenous breeds and genetic upgradation of non descriptive population. This was comprised of two components i.e. National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) and National Mission on Bovine Productivity (NMBP). Its main objectives were to raise stock of disease free high genetic merit bulls and cows for breeding purpose, upgradation of non descriptive animals through breeding with elite indigenous breeds, to cover all breedable females under AI as only 30 % of breedable females are under AI coverage, to avail semen of high genetic merit bulls for AI at farmers’ doorstep, to select these high genetic merit bulls through genomics, and to create e-market portal for farmers for direct purchase of bovine germplasm from breeders. Under this, establishment of Gokul Grams, establishment of National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres, identification and issue of Health Cards to milking animals (Pashu Sanjivni), establishment of MAITRI centres, establishment of ETT, OPU-IVF and sex sorted semen laboratories for indigenous breeds, development of E-Pashuhaat Portal, and development of INDUSCHIP and BUFFCHIP for Genomic selection have been done while some are still under progress. Awards like Gopal Ratna awards and Kamdhenu awards are also given to encourage farmers/breeders for rearing indigenous breeds.
Livestock insurance Scheme was also launched by the government of India which protects the cattle farmers against any eventual loss of their animals due to death and demonstrates the benefit of this insurance to farmers with the aim to attain qualitative improvement in livestock and their products.
Government of India is also making efforts for the production of quality milk, processing and marketing milk and milk products through schemes like National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), National Dairy Plan (Phase-I), Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS), Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF), and through support to dairy cooperatives. Gujarat model is famous for co-operative dairy sectors and Amul (Anand Milk Union Ltd.) is the best example of it. The livestock farmers are key members of the co-operative organizations and GCMMF (Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Union Ltd.) has sole proprietary rights of purchasing dairy products from these organizations and selling it all over India.
NDDB (National Dairy Development Board) is a central government body with the aim to increase the quality milk production in India through organizing training for farmers and to promote establishment of new dairies in all over the country. It also trains the dairy students about the latest technologies and equipments used in dairy processing plants. It launched a mobile application named ‘Pashu Poshan’ that recommends a balanced diet for cows and buffaloes which reduce the feed cost and help the dairy farmers’ to boost income through enhanced milk production. It also launched Information Network for Animal Productivity & Health (INAPH), an application that facilitates access to real time data on breeding, nutrition and health services delivered at farmer’s doorstep. Information Network for Semen Production and Resource Management (INSPRM) is an information network launched by NDDB under National Dairy Plan I (NDP I) which links and coordinates all semen stations in India to have information on the semen production and their use at field level. It is linked with INAPH. Semen Station Management System (SSMS) is linked with INSPRM which supports production of frozen semen doses at semen stations according to Minimum Standard Protocol (MSP) as defined by the Government of India. It further helped in achieving long term goals of enhanced milk production in dairy animals.
On 10th September 2020, the government launched an online digital application i.e. e-Gopala under e-Pashuhaat (Pashu bazaar). The e-Pashuhaat covers up to date statistics related to numbers of animals available for sale in different states; stock of frozen semen doses (Normal and sexed semen both); stock of ETT and OPU-IVF produced embryos; frozen semen doses sold; number of farmers, AI technicians and organizations registered with this portal and their complete details. The e-Gopala app. is an online marketplace and information portal that deals with all the details related to selling of animals, normal semen doses, sexed semen doses, and embryos along with addresses and prices; to avail farmers for direct assessment and purchase of better quality without involvement of middlemen.
On the same day, Prime Minister also announced the package of Rs 20,050 crore from 2020-21 to 2024-25 as a part of Atmanirbhar Bharat under PMMSY scheme to enhance the fish production by 2024-25 which will double the fish farmers incomes, and to generate employment opportunities in fisheries and allied sectors like dairy and apiculture.
Veterinarian Role
Government is focusing on the animal husbandry sector that holds the key to double the farmer’s income by 2022. Therefore, the role of veterinarians automatically becomes of paramount importance. The veterinary officers appointed by state and central governments play an important role in the economy of livestock farmers. They deal with both animals and their owners as they treat the animals suffering from diseases and also convince the farmers to follow precautionary or preventive measures. They educate the farmers about livestock related schemes run by the central/state government for their benefits. They guide farmers to implement good animal husbandry practices like best comfortable environment, feeding and management suitable for their animals to enhance the milk production. They provide information about species specific and area specific diseases and preventive measures to be taken in disease outbreak. They convince the livestock farmers to adopt modern and innovative techniques in animal husbandry practices. They train and promote farmers to run profitable businesses through pig, goat and poultry farming in an integrated manner. They encourage organic animal husbandry farming practices among farmers. They help livestock farmers to involve in the cooperative sector and also help in their financial assistance from cooperative banks or societies.
Best Out Of Waste
Non-milking animals are generally left by many farmers unattended as they can’t afford their food and shelter. It leads to menace of stray cattle both in cities and rural areas. The Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (National Cow Commission) promoted the use of varied products of cow dung/urine as a business model so that more and more livestock farmers can be involved in cooperative models to protect these animals. They implemented laws to prohibit cow slaughter, to educate farmers about organic farming and the importance of biogas, bio-pesticides, and bio-fertilizers; and link them with markets or end users. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on 10th December 2014 launched dhoop sticks made up of cow dung and bathing liquid, skin cream, beauty soap, natural harde churna laxative made up of gau mutra. Department of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy invited projects on “cowpathy” i.e. scientific investigation of uniqueness of pure Indigenous Indian cows. A major aim was to scientifically validate “panchgavya” i.e. cow milk, curd, ghee, dung, and urine to have curative properties. The extracts of Indian cow dung possessed superior antimicrobial activity against human pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli than other cow and buffalo dung types. As per Ayurveda, Gomutra (cow urine) can cure leprosy, psoriasis, asthma, fever, peptic ulcer, liver or kidney disorders, anaemia and even cancer. A floor-cleaning fluid called Gaunyle was marketed by Holy Cow Foundation. In 2015, the Ministry of Rajasthan inaugurated a cow-urine refinery in Jalore. It was set up by Parthvimeda Gau Pharma Pvt. Ltd. which produced a floor cleaner called “Gocleaner”.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has shifted Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industries to a new direction such as machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and robotic artificial neural networks. In foreign countries, farmers are well advanced and holders of the largest economy. They consult vets, researchers; discuss latest innovations, record huge real time data for research along with end users or consumers feedback. These are fed to computers and through machine learning algorithms; it generates valuable output which is finally applied by farmers. They use cameras in their farms to record behavioral changes related to estrus, parturition, and disease through continuous monitoring of animals, use thermal or camera radiography in milking pens to determine body condition score as an early indication of negative energy balance for its prevention. Considering Indian conditions, for a technology to adopt, it should be economically feasible, reliable, accurate, affordable, simple and shouldn’t change the farmer’s behavior. For this, huge manpower is required to record real time data at farmers’ doorsteps. First, all animals should be traced through RFID tags. Livestock assistants should be appointed to record data from mobile phones through scanning these tags. All real time data related to disease, estrus behavior, pregnancy, parturition, and abortion should be recorded and automatically sent to computer and through machine learning algorithms; data should be analyzed by researchers to generate reliable output. Then, it is fed in artificial neural networks that send alarming signals on mobile phones to farmers and Livestock assistants if it is related to estrus, pregnancy or parturition and vets if it is related to dystocia or diseases. In these conditions, animal physiology is changed than normal that is captured and sent to farmers or vets. One such thing is neck collar device that captures real time data related to physical activity, respiration, pulse rate, heart rate, body temperature, rumen microbiota, and fatty acids proportion of rumen liquor. If any changes than normal physiological values occur, it automatically sends the signal to farmers to take necessary actions like calling vets for diseases, pregnancy diagnosis and handling dystocia cases or calling Artificial inseminators for animals in estrus. During milking, laser based somatic cell counters can be used for early detection of mastitis in milch animals.
SUCCESS STORIES
Keggfarms Pvt. Ltd.
In Gurgaon, it is a poultry rearing homestead established by Vinod Kapur. Kapur’s goal is to help poor rural communities by increasing their wages. It gives nutritional security, and empowers the women who take care of the chickens. Keggfarms developed a hybrid breed called Kuroiler, which can be devoured for the eggs and meat. Kuroiler is portrayed by higher profitability and adaptability to the rural Indian environment.
The Way We Were Farm
Sanjay Bhalla established The Way We Were Farm in Noida. Bhalla produces A2 milk from Gir dairy animals. He tries to increase both public awareness and the utilization of A2 milk, and hopes to promote the growth of traditional cattle breeds in India. He also merged cattle rearing with organic farming on his farm.
Tona Farm
Tona Organic Farm in Tona village of West Bengal was set up in 2003 as an activity of Bio-Diverse Farming Pvt. Ltd and is co-owned by farmers from the village. The farm is focused on providing organic food, including meat items liberated from anti-toxins, at reasonable costs. Zero greenhouse gas emissions and 100% waste recycling are among the objectives that the farm attempts to accomplish. Medicinal herbs are used to feed the animals and animal waste is used as fertilizer for plants. In addition, by giving industrial training and consultancy to village farmers, it aims to make them self-reliant.
INCREASING INCOME OF LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN INDIA: FOCUS AREAS
