Economics Of Animal Rearing

What Is Animal Rearing?

1. Animal rearing refers to the process of raising animals for various purposes, including food, fiber, and labor. It involves the care and management of animals to ensure their health and well-being, as well as their productivity.
2. Animal rearing can include a wide range of animals, including livestock such as cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and poultry, as well as other animals such as horses, donkeys, and camels. Animals are raised for various purposes, such as meat, milk, eggs, wool, leather, and work.
3. Animal rearing practices can vary depending on the type of animal being raised and the purpose for which it is being raised. For example, dairy cows may be kept in barns and milked regularly, while chickens may be raised in coops and allowed to roam freely. The animals may be fed a variety of diets, including grass, hay, grains, and supplements.
4. Animal rearing can be an important source of income and livelihood for many people, particularly in rural areas. It can also provide important food and other products for human consumption. However, animal rearing can also have environmental impacts, particularly if it involves intensive production methods or if waste is not properly managed. As such, it is important to ensure that animal rearing practices are sustainable and environmentally responsible.

Animal Rearing Economy in India

1. Animal rearing is an important component of the Indian economy, particularly in rural areas. India is one of the world’s largest producers of livestock products, including milk, meat, and eggs. Livestock production is an important source of income for many small-scale farmers, particularly in rural areas where other sources of income may be limited.
2. The livestock sector in India includes a wide range of animals, including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry. The sector is dominated by dairy production, with India being the world’s largest producer of milk. In addition to milk production, animals are also raised for meat, eggs, wool, and other products.
3. Animal rearing is an important contributor to India’s agricultural economy, accounting for a significant share of agricultural GDP. According to the National Dairy Development Board, the livestock sector contributes around 4% to India’s GDP and provides employment to around 8% of the population.
4. Animal rearing is an integral component of Indian agriculture, supporting the livelihood of >55% of the rural population.
5. The objective of animal rearing is to make livestock, fisheries useful for human beings for a variety of purposes many of which have economic value. Hence economies of animal rearing have a vast potential for providing non-farm employment and income to rural areas.

Animal Rearing Potential In India

1. India was the second-largest producer of fish and the second-largest aquaculture nation in 2017-2018.
2. According to the 20th livestock census in 2019, India has the most livestock owners, with 535.78 million people.
3. The poultry industry is worth INR 1 lakh crore, making it the second largest market in the world.
4. With a population of 148.8 million goats, it ranks second in the goat population (2019 20th livestock census).
5. The sheep population ranks third, followed by the chicken and duck populations, which rank fifth (2019, 20th livestock census).

Benefits of raising animals for farmers:

1. Farmers’ Other Sources of Income: Farmers benefit from the ability to earn quick cash in times of need by using animals as assets and a moving bank. Farmers can supplement their income by selling milk and other animal products from livestock like sheep and cows. It employs approximately 8.8% of the Indian population.
2. Food and Health: Farmers and their families benefit from the consistent supply of milk and eggs provided by bovine and poultry species.
3. Security Insurance: In rural areas, animals provide a sense of social security, particularly for landless farmers who own more livestock than others.
4. Animals’ concept of power: Indian agriculture relies heavily on bullocks. Despite numerous technological advancements, bullocks are still used by Indian farmers for a variety of agricultural tasks.
5. Fertilizer made from animal waste like dung can help reduce fertilizer dependence on the market. Additionally, it facilitates farmers’ transition to zero-budget natural farming.
6. Climate change resistance: It is possible to consider livestock to be more reliable than rain-fed agriculture because it is less susceptible to climate change and global warming.

Challenges and issues associated

1. disease outbreak: frequent outbreaks of diseases like Brucellosis, Black Quarter, and others that affect livestock and productivity.
2. Problems with yield and productivity: Despite the fact that India is the world’s largest milk producer, Indian cattle yields are only about 50% of the global average.
3. Greenhouse gas contributor: According to estimates from 2012, the livestock industry in India accounts for 58% of agricultural emissions, whereas the livestock industry in other parts of the world accounts for 14.5 percent of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Lack of advancements in technology: fewer artificial inseminations, lower-quality germplasm, and insufficient technical staff
5. monetary issues: Only 12% of agricultural and related sector expenditures went to the livestock industry. which, in terms of size and contribution to GDP, is significantly lower.
6. Insufficient coverage: Only 6 percent of animal heads are covered by insurance.
7. Market entry: Farmers are discouraged from adopting livestock because of the lack of formalized markets for livestock and its products.
8. The informal sector is present: Unregistered slaughterhouses account for roughly half of the production of meat, which results in lower prices for farmers.
9. Poor quality exports and exports returned by other nations under phytosanitary and sanitary regulations result from a lack of quality control and standardization of animal products.
10. Sanitary standards – Sanitary standards needs are very high for milk and meat sector. The FSSAI norms are quite stringent if a person wants to export these products.

Reforms needed

Some of the key strategies that can be implemented to improve animal rearing in India include:

1. Improving infrastructure: Developing better infrastructure, such as better roads and transport facilities, can help farmers get their products to market more efficiently. This can help to increase their income and make animal rearing a more viable livelihood option.
2. Strengthening veterinary services: Ensuring that veterinary services are available and accessible to farmers can help to improve animal health and reduce the incidence of disease. This can help to increase the productivity of livestock and improve the quality of animal products.
3. Increasing access to credit and finance: Many small-scale farmers in India lack access to credit and finance, which can limit their ability to invest in their farms and improve their production. Providing access to credit and finance can help farmers to purchase better breeds of animals, improve their animal housing and feeding, and adopt new technologies and practices.
4. Promoting sustainable livestock production practices: Encouraging the adoption of sustainable livestock production practices, such as improved feeding, breeding, and management practices, can help to improve animal health and productivity, while reducing the environmental impact of animal rearing.
5. Strengthening research and development: Investing in research and development can help to identify new technologies and practices that can improve animal health and productivity, while also reducing the environmental impact of animal rearing.
6. Providing education and training: Educating farmers about best practices in animal rearing and providing training on topics such as animal health and nutrition can help to improve the productivity and profitability of their farms.

Schemes launched by government

1. Plans like Rashtriya Gokul’s mission to maintain extreme climatic conditions and improve indigenous breeds
2. Dairy Processing and Infrastructural Development Fund: In order to increase the country’s milk processing capacity, the Dairy Processing and Infrastructural Development Fund was established.
3. Program for the Control of Animal Diseases (NADCP): By 2025, the program hopes to control livestock diseases like brucellosis and foot and mouth disease and eradicate them by 2030.
4. KISAN RAIL and KISAN UDAN: In order to provide connectivity, the establishment of KISAN RAIL and KISAN UDAN was proposed in Budget 2020-21.
5. Artificial insemination would be increased to 70% from 30% currently.
6. E Pashu Haat Portal is a way to connect farmers and breeders about high-quality bovine germplasm.
7. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund: The 15,000 crore Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is proposed to attract private investment, guarantee farmers’ access to capital, and create direct or indirect livelihoods.

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