Union Minister Highlights India’s Dairy & Livestock Leadership at FAO Global Conference in Rome | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Union Minister Highlights India’s Dairy & Livestock Leadership at FAO Global Conference in Rome

Posted 30 Sep 2025

2 min read

Article Summary

Article Summary

India emphasizes farmer-centric initiatives, highlights its global livestock dominance, and advocates sector-specific policies to address challenges like feed shortages, disease, and low insurance coverage.

The minister highlighted India’s farmer-centric initiatives, innovations, and transformations driving inclusive growth in the dairy and livestock sector.

Status of Livestock & Dairy Sector in India:

  • Livestock sector contributes 31% to agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) and 5.5% to the national economy.
    • India has world's largest population of livestock.
  • Ranks first in milk production, second in egg production, and fifth in meat production globally.
  • Livestock sector provides livelihoods to nearly two-thirds of rural households.

Key Concerns Related to Livestock Sector: 

  • Feed and Fodder Issues: India has only 5% of its cultivable land under fodder production while having 15% of world’s livestock.
  • Livestock Insurance: Only 1% of livestock is insured.
  • Economic Loss due to diseases: E.g. Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, etc.
  • Anti-Microbial Resistance: India ranks 4th in antibiotics use in animals.
  • Other Issues: Underutilization of Funds, Low productivity etc.

Way Forward for Livestock Sector:                                                  

  • Declare Livestock a Special Sector: For proper attention and resources.
  • Promote Livestock-based integrated farming system (IFS): to integrate crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and other agricultural activities
  • Breed Improvement Programmes: To include state-dominant indigenous breeds from all states of the country to prevent their replacement by high-yielding breeds.
  • Other Recommendations: Create National Fodder Mission, Expand Livestock Insurance etc.

India’s Initiatives for Livestock Sector

  • Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Focuses on conserving and upgrading indigenous breeds through selective breeding.
  • Livestock Vaccination Programme: Administering over 1.2 billion doses annually.
  • Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund: USD 3.5 billion fund that supports investments in dairy, breeding, feed plants, and meat processing.
  • MAITRIs and A-HELP: MAITRIs train local persons to deliver breeding services, and A-HELP empowers rural women to contribute to animal health delivery.
  • Tags :
  • Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund
  • Rashtriya Gokul Mission
  • Livestock & Dairy Sector
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