Forum global sur la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition (Forum FSN)

Livestock Context of India

Animal husbandry is an integral component of Indian agriculture supporting Livelihoods’ of more than [1]two-thirds of the rural population. India has [2]56.7% of world’s buffaloes, 12.5% cattle, 20.4% small ruminants, 2.4% camel, 1.4% equine, 1.5% pigs and 3.1% poultry. International Livestock Research [3]reported that the livestock sector grew at an annual rate of 5.3% during the 1980s, which was almost double the growth rate of the crop sector. In subsequent decades, growth in the livestock sector declined and reached 3.6% during the 2000s. Despite this decline, growth in the livestock sector remained about 1.5 times higher than growth in the crop sector .Livestock production directly contributes to food security by being the source of milk, meat, and eggs. Though livestock products are expensive yet they are the best sources of high quality protein and micronutrients that are essential for development and good health. However, poor people tend to sell them instead of consuming at home which is causing low per capita annual consumption of milk (69 kg) and meat (3.7 kg). The government of India initiatives like crossbreeding programs (door step artificial insemination services in cattle and buffaloes), improved animal health services, fodder development programs and better access to markets has contributed to increased livestock production but the average yield is low compared to world average: milk yield of Indian cattle is fifty percent less and meat yield 20-60%. Some of the causes of low productivity are explained below.

The small holder livestock production is mostly characterized as extensive where animals rely upon low quality roughages. Crop residues like rice, wheat, sorghum, millets etc., are the key source of feed for animals and their availability is not adequate, the deficit of dry fodder, concentrates and green fodder is 10%, 33% and 35%, respectively. Mostly small holders are unable to grow cultivated fodder as the land possessed by them is very small and it is used for producing cereals.

Outbreaks of diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease, Black Quarter, PPR, Brucellosis, Swine fever and Avian Influenza etc., on a regular basis continue to impact productivity.

Despite promoting crossbreeding program for more than four decades, India’s crossbred population has not exceeded 25% in cattle, 21.5% in pigs and 5.2% in sheep. Most of the crossbreds are not properly managed by small holders due to lack of adequate knowledge and resources.

Due to urbanization and conversion of waste lands for agriculture purpose grazing lands are shrinking dramatically impacting fodder scarecity.

Although, there is an improvement in health service delivery system in the country availability of services is mostly observed in milk shed areas that too confining to dairy animals. Reach of quality services to small ruminants, pigs and backyard poultry still a big challenge.

The livestock sector is likely to face threat of climate change. The global warming is likely to cause a loss of 1.6 million tons milk production by 2020 and 15 million tons by 2050 from current levels in India. The decline in yield may vary from 10-30% in first lactation, and 5-20% in second and third lactations[4]. The decline in milk production will be higher in crossbreds (0.61%) followed by buffaloes (0.5%) and indigenous cattle (0.4%). A rise of 2-6°C due to global warming between 2050s and 2080s is projected to negatively impact growth, puberty and maturity of crossbred animals and buffaloes. Therefore earnings of the farmers dependent primarily on animal husbandry becomes vulnerable when heat stress conditions prevail. Currently the policies are focusing more on promoting indigenous breeds which are more hardy, robust and less affected by extreme temperature and high humidity conditions with potential to produce equivalent amounts of milk as crossbreds.

CK.Rao

Senior Advisor

Intercooperation Social Development