Know your Ministry - No. 19 - Animal Husbandry & Dairying

Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development sectors play an important role in the national economy and in the socio-economic development of the country. These sectors also play a significant role in supplementing family incomes and generating gainful employment in the rural sector, particularly among the landless labourers, small and marginal farmers and women, besides providing cheap nutritional food to millions of people.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (AH&D) is one of the Departments of the newly created Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying The Department is responsible for matters relating to livestock production, preservation, protection from diseases and improvement of stocks and dairy development, and also for matters relating to the Delhi Milk Scheme and the National Dairy Development Board.

The Department advises State Governments/Union Territories in the formulation of policies and programs in the field of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development. The main thrust areas of the Ministry are:

• Development of requisite infrastructure in States/UTs for improving productivity,
• Preservation and protection of livestock through provision of health care and,
• Strengthening of Central livestock farms (Cattle, Sheep and Poultry) for development of superior germ plasm for distribution to States.

Divisions under Ministry: National Livestock Mission, Cattle and Dairy Development, Animal Husbandry Statistics (Links not accessible), International Cooperation, Establishment and Administration, Cash Section and Livestock Health and Disease Control.

Documents in Public Domain: Result Framework Document (FRD), Annual Reports (2018-19), Guidelines, Forms, Livestock Web App Tutorial, Monthly Summary to the Cabinet, National Livestock Policy 2013, Report to the People, Acts & Rules, Assets of DAHD, Procurement Projections of DAHD for Next 5 years

Activities - Mission Mode Project

CHALLENGES

• The majority community engaged in Animal Husbandry and Dairy activities fall under the ambit of unorganized sector due to lack of direct control and support from the Government.
• The level of technological inputs in the areas covered by the department has been minimal. Large-scale technological inputs would result in incremental output in terms of yield and productivity.
• The majority of primary producers in the country are landless/small and marginal farmers with minimum support base and are likely to give up this vocation in times of adversity in view of poor financial support mechanism available for them.
• Inadequate resources in terms of Financial, human and institutional, technological interventions, marketing infrastructure, quality and food safety.
• Absence of reliable, adequate and real time data related to animal health to facilitate input & extension of services and  lack of short and long term Action Plan to derive growth in rural incomes and doubling the farmers’ income as mandated in Election campaigns through Manifesto for votes by political parties

WAY FORWARD

• To update and publish a revised National Livestock Policy based on the Latest Livestock Census since Livestock are the best insurance against the vagaries of nature like drought, famine and other natural calamities.(Latest available as on  2013)
• To enact a Comprehensive law for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fishing repealing all other extant obsolete laws to conserve Animal Husbandry and Dairy activities.
• To restore and develop all traditional county breed varieties under Animal Husbandry through Government support and nullify dependence on imported technology.
• To check the decline of Livestock and establish Research Centres at every District to Prevention and control of animal diseases besides increase in quality livestock ensuring better livestock health.
• Creation of a new and separate Ministries for livestock, dairying and fisheries and ensure independent functional autonomy to bring momentum in growth.
• To develop a mechanism for production of nutritious of fodder and feed to Animals through traditional natural feeds devoid of chemicals or artificial stuff.
• To engage student community through a National Scheme for Improving hygiene and quality of Dairy and animal products to meet international standards and to open up opportunities for the domestic industry to compete in the international markets.
• The investment in this sector through the Plan outlays has been very meagre and negligible over the years and there is need for enhanced budgetary allocation and support to this sector which would definitely yield high returns in terms of increasing productivity, poverty alleviation and employment generation. Hence, Government has to accord top priority to the sector in allocation of funds and strengthen with adequate resources,  manpower and budgetary support
• To engage the experts and specialized personnel to assist in policy making and development of Government schemes to reach every eligible beneficiary.