Livestock Production and Improvement in India: Problems and Opportunities in the Context of Global Scenario

Livestock sector including dairying, poultry and fisheries contribute about 4% to national GDP and 30% to agricultural GDP in India. It provides nutritious food such as milk, meat, egg, fish; wool, hairs, organic manure, draft power, feathers, skin & hides, and other by-products from slaughter house as raw material for industry; nutritional, social and livelihood security and employment to millions of small, marginal and landless farmers; gender empowerment and human wellbeing in number of ways. India witnessed remarkable growth in milk and egg production (white revolution) and fish production (blue revolution) after 1950’s and is number one in milk production, second in aquaculture, third in fish and egg production, and fifth in broiler production globally. However, average per unit productivity of milk, wool and pork is lower than in developed countries. Major constraints in livestock production relate to non-availability of adequate quality feed and fodder, low genetic production potential of indigenous breeds, morbidity and mortality losses due to infectious and non-infectious diseases. Liberalized international trade, increasing demand for value added livestock produce and organic food, and climate change have further highlighted the importance of livestock farming. Livestock are the best insurance against the vagaries of nature like drought, famine and other natural calamities. Modern cutting edge technologies, innovative practices and policies for improved breeding, feeding, health care, management and trade will be necessary for meeting the increasing requirement of animal protein and other livestock produce. Constraints and opportunities in livestock production in India are discussed in the paper.