Animal Husbandry and Dairying sector plays an important role in the national economy and in the socio-economic development of the country. The contribution of this sector is estimated to be about 25 per cent of the total value of output of agricultural sector.
This sector also plays a significant role in supplementing family incomes and generating employment in the rural sector, particularly among the landless, small and marginal farmers and women, besides providing cheap and nutritious food to millions of people.
The employment in the livestock sector was approximately 9.8 million in principal status, and another 8.6 million approximately in subsidiary status according to the National Sample Survey of 1993-94. India’s milk output in 1997-98 was 70.5 million tonnes and it is targeted to reach the level of 75 million tonnes in 1998- 99 making India perhaps the largest producer of milk in the world.
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Export earnings from the livestock sector and related products rose to Rs.1925 crore in 1996-97 from Rs.792 crore in 1988-89. The export of meat and meat products during 1996-97 was Rs. 693 crore which accounted for about 36 per cent of the total exports from the livestock sector.
For the rapid growth of the livestock and fisheries sector, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has formulated proposals of Rs.1677.88 crore for the Ninth Plan (1997-2002). For realizing the full potential of this sector, the allocation of the Dept. of Animal Husbandry and Dairying for 1998-99 was stepped upto Rs. 381.90 crore, a 70 per cent increase over Revised estimate of last year.
To provide additional impetus, two new plan schemes have been conceived and introduced during 1998-99. These are:
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(a) Formation of new dairy cooperatives in Operation Flood areas to bring under the cooperative fold 35 lakh members in addition to the 90 lakh members now being served by dairy cooperatives; and
(b) Providing vocational opportunities and fostering entrepreneurship among dairy science student trainees to equip them with knowledge and experience to take up dairying as a profession.
