Modi's new mission: Propel livestock production to increase India's GDP


BY DEEPAK SHARMA

New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS): Propelling livestock production into 'mission mode' would be one of the keys for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in achieving his ambitious target of making India a $5 trillion economy by 2024. After brainstorming serial meetings with livestock experts, top veterinary scientists and key officials of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Ministry, Modi has launched three game-changing schemes which can turn around the growth story of millions of livestock farmers in India. The Government estimates that in the next five years, livestock farmers will not only save losses worth Rs 2.50 lakh crore, but will increase their income four times, contributing a major share in India's GDP.

On boosting the Indian economy through significant increase in livestock production, Atul Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying told IANS: "The government's determination to increase livestock production will certainly improve the economy in a big way. The three schemes launched by the Centre are unprecedented in scale. At the moment, we are carrying a mammoth exercise to assess the expected contribution of livestock production in the economy."

One of the most senior IAS officers in the Modi government, Chaturvedi said that extraordinary efforts are being made to implement some of the biggest schemes (in the animal husbandry sector) in the world. "We are hopeful that it would lead to a fourfold increase in farmers' income by 2024," said Chaturvedi, a zoologist-turned-bureaucrat, who was earlier holding a key position in the Union Ministry of Commerce.

How focused the Modi government is on the livestock production is evident from its very first cabinet meeting. A source in the PMO revealed that soon after taking oath as Prime Minister for the second term, Modi presided over meetings related to animal husbandry issues. Subsequently, the very first decision of Modi's first cabinet meeting was approval of a Rs 13,000 crore scheme for the benefit of livestock farmers.

"By 2017-18, Prime Minister Modi (in his first term) had decided to push the animal husbandry and dairy (sector) into mission mode because he realised that growth in this sector is over 6 per cent whereas the yearly growth in the agriculture sector is just half, at a meagre 3 per cent. The government was convinced that if livestock production is stimulated, the growth in animal husbandry and dairy could be raised up to 12 to 15 per cent, heralding a revolution in the agriculture market," said a key official, implementing vaccination of bovines across the country.

Another area of concern for PM Modi has been very low dairy exports. Despite being the world's largest milk producer, India could never break into the list of top 15 milk and dairy exporting countries. The main reason for this was that India's major bovine population was affected by several diseases including the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

The high sanitation norms and health parameters in western countries rejected import of Indian milk and dairy products. The situation was similar in other livestock products. Besides, the average yearly production of milk per cow was not even one fourth. Government data reveals an Indian cow's average yearly milk production is around 2,000 kg while in the US, the figure crosses the 10,000 kg mark. In Israel, the average yearly milk production by a single cow is nearly 12,000 kg which raises questions about the very low milk yield per cow in India.

On issues which hinder the growth of livestock production in the country, Chaturvedi identified three key problems were the biggest barriers for farmers for yielding less profit.

"Prevailing diseases in farm animals, poor nutrition value (of fodder provided to them) and low quality of breeding are the main reasons behind sluggish growth. The government is addressing all these problems. For instance, a large force of volunteers will undertake the world's biggest-ever vaccination drive by injecting 1,056 million doses every year. The result would definitely free Indian bovines from FMD, resulting in wide acceptance of Indian milk and dairy products across the world," said Chaturvedi, a 1986 batch IAS officer of Assam and Meghalaya cadre.

Recently, when PM Modi launched a cattle vaccination programme in Mathura, he also laid emphasis on developing best breeds in livestock. A much better breed of cattle would enable the farmers to pocket six-to-eight times more profit than what they are usually earning now. India has also hired the services of two American companies, considered to be the most advanced in artificial insemination technology to produce healthier livestock. The farmers would now have a choice of breeding only cows rather than bulls. The new technology of insemination provides sex-sorted semen wherein the farmers can ensure that only female calves are born. The inseminated cows using semen of genetically superior bulls can also ensure increased milk production and better fertility.

Policy makers in the government's think tank, Niti Aayog, are also hopeful that by increasing livestock production in quality and quantity, rural India can contribute to India's GDP in a significant way. According to a Niti Aayog official, animal husbandry and dairying can reap profits up to ten times more when compared with agriculture production by and large limited to kharif or rabi crops.

  

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Comment on this article

  • ad, mangaluru

    Fri, Oct 18 2019

    Exploitation of Cow Matha?

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santa, Padubidri

    Fri, Oct 18 2019

    It is a good initiative.Modi is taking initiatives which have long term effect instead of temporary bhagyas.Hence new generation loves him ,though they are temporary hiccups.When you are doing major surgery,there can be minor side effects.He is trying changes in mindset too. He is challenging 'chalta hein' attitude .We all should support him rather looking through religious mindset.The problem of some sections of readers here is ,they are stopped reaping the benefit as votebank and from monetary based religious conversions.Modi's policies are for all and affect positively everyone irrespective of their affiliations.
    Seeing Hopes for developed India.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Atlanta

    Fri, Oct 18 2019

    India badly needs Educated Leaders ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • ad, mangaluru

    Fri, Oct 18 2019

    Fools economics . Nothing else is woking under Modi. India going to the cows and dogs, even monkeys on streets for revival.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • SmR, Karkala

    Fri, Oct 18 2019

    Not only has he failed to stop his colleagues, Modi had, until not very long ago, enthusiastically joined them in vitiating the atmosphere. When it comes to Modi’s views on cow slaughter, we don’t even need to second guess his minister’s statements or his own enigmatic silences. Before taking office as prime minister, Modi had spoken extensively on the matter and his views are on the record.

    In fact, one of the major themes of the 2014 general election campaign was a supposed “pink revolution” that the Congress was promoting, an insidious plan to help slaughter more cows and make money off their meat – a theme that fits in neatly with the BJP’s evergreen charge of minority appeasement.

    This theme of cow slaughter was repeated again and again through the 2014 campaign. But of course, the genesis of this brand of politics is much older. Whipping up religious passion by raising the bogey of cow slaughter was a part of Modi’s politics even when he was chief minister of Gujarat.

    India’s beef exports rise under Modi govt despite Hindu vigilante campaign at home. In fiscal 2014-15, beef exports stood at 14,75,540 metric tonnes — the highest in 10 years — up from 13,65,643 metric tonnes in 2013-14. Revenue from buffalo exports has the potential to grow from over $4 billion currently to $10 billion in the next five years

    Till 2014 the RSS political wing BJP which worship 'cow' with the divine, never stopped exporting making India with the largest beef exporting nation.

    Modiji's new mission of livestock is the acceptance of falling Industrial output contracted 1.1%. Fifteen out of the 23 industry groups in the manufacturing sector showed a decline in output in August as compared to the same month last year.
    If slaughtering is banned, that means the country is looking at an additional 10 million cattle every year, at an approximate total cost of Rs 22,000 crore(i.e. Rs.60/day) to care for them.
    The question, then, boils down “Inko paaley kaun” having no?
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [3] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Atlanta

    Fri, Oct 18 2019

    India should start Manufacturing high-value items for Higher GDP ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Babu, Kaikamba

    Fri, Oct 18 2019

    Increase beef export

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • I wish I was There, Bahrain

    Thu, Oct 17 2019

    First take care of your wife and women then cow's, when this guy is going to wake up.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Howdy, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 17 2019

    Why this govt can not get it in it's thick skull, it's not the problem with producers or the corporates but it's the problem of consumers. Consumers don't have money in their pocket to spend and buy. Put money back in consumes pocket by reducing taxes, implementing less fees, allowing small businesses to do cash transactions but ultimately the end consumer will pay the tax. Cut red tapes in businesses, open job opportunities. Unless you make these happen no matter what the big companies do it will never change GDP and economic situation in India.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amit, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 17 2019

    Mission "PAKODA " loss hogaya kya???

    DisAgree [3] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse

  • Divakar P, Udupi / Qatar

    Thu, Oct 17 2019

    Loss nahee huha.

    Finally he realized that we can only prosper thru Beef Exports.

    Doodh, butter, ghee bi products.

    Btw. Never heard a blind bhakthas talking about beef exports India’s number one business.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prashanth, Udupi

    Fri, Oct 18 2019

    Now he is pushing for Chicken Pakoda.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse


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