Livestock and poultry play an important role in Indian agriculture. In India, nearly 70% of rural households depend on agriculture for their livelihood. livestock farming is a part of crop farming and plays an important role in substantial household nutrition and helping reduce poverty by increasing family income. small to medium farms that focus on dairy and mixed farming see high returns. which gives more balanced rural development and improves the economic status of those involved in livestock activities.
Dairy animals produce milk by converting the crop residues. The dairy sector contributes by way of cash income, and manure. Livestock provides for human needs like Food, fiber. Fuel and Fertilizer. The contribution of livestock and poultry is crucial not only for food security but also for economic stability.
Based on 2019 livestock census Livestock and Poultry population
- Buffalo population: In India around 57% of the world’s buffalo population, around 109.85 million buffalos as per the 2019 livestock census.
- Cattle: The population of cattle approximately 193.46 million, around 16% of the world’s cattle.
- Goats: The population of goats is around 148.88 million, around 20% of the global goat population.
- Sheep: In India around 74.26 million sheep, contributing about 5% of the worldwide sheep population. (pib.gov.in 2023).
Livestock production data from 2022-2023: Livestock and Poultry
- Milk Production: India produced nearly 230.58 million tonnes of milk, and India is the world’s largest producer of milk. Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan contribute around 15% followed by Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. (pib.gov.in 2023).
- Egg Production: In India, around 138.38 billion eggs were produced India is a leading global egg producer. Andhra Pradesh contributed the largest share of 20%.
- Wool Production: Total wool production is around 33.61 million kg, major production coming from Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir. (pib.gov.in 2023).
- Meat Production: Around 9.77 million tonnes of meat are produced in India, with major contributions from states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Per Capita Availability as per Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying 2023
- Milk: The per capita availability has reached approximately 459 grams per day, and the national nutritional recommendation is 280 grams per day.
- Eggs: The availability of eggs per capita is around 95 per person per year, but an ideal requirement of about 180 eggs per year.
- Meat: Per capita meat availability is about 5-6 kilograms per person annually. recommendation is below 10 kilograms per year.
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How livestock continues to be a key role in India economic?
- Employment: The livestock sector, given employs nearly 28 million people in India, with a significant portion involved in rural areas.
- Exports: Exports from the livestock sector have grown continuously. In 2023-24, agricultural exports, including livestock products, reached $48.15 billion, with major contributions from dairy, leather, and meat exports. (ibef.org).
- Economic Contribution: As of the latest reports, the livestock sector’s contribution to India’s (Gross Domestic Product) GDP is around 4.2% of the national GDP and about 25% of the total agricultural output.
Why milk production per cow in India significantly lower as compared to world average?
India’s cattle population is large, but milk production is low—average 987 kg per lactation compared to the world average of 2,038 kg. This is mainly due to several factors, such as a high proportion of non-productive cows, chronic shortage of feed and fodder, poor nutritive value of the available feed and fodder, low fertility rates, destruction of grazing land.
What strategies can help to overcome this problem?
- Adopting non-traditional feed sources, such as agricultural by-products, vegetable wastes, and horticulture industrial by-products.
- Reducing the number of unproductive animals will help to focus resources on high-yielding cattle.
