Tackling the future challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry - vTI

Discussion
RAHMANN G & GODINHO D (Ed.) (2012): Tackling the Future Challenges of Organic Animal Husbandry.
Proceedings of the 2 nd OAHC, Hamburg/Trenthorst, Germany, Sep 12-14, 2012
Strengths
Integrated crop-livestock farming system predominant in India with well diversified livestock population
in terms of species and breeds is ideal for organic livestock production. Besides, limited external
input use including for animal production and maximum on- farm reliance brings it further
closer to organic systems. The livstock production being largely extensive or semi-intensive, animal
welfare too is not much compromised compared to factory type of animal production common in
Western developed nations. The Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) and ayurvedic medicines
for health care are effective substitute for allopathic medicines, giving India an edge over western
countries in the matters of organic livestock production. The National Accreditation Board has recently
approved and notified long awaited- the Indian National standards for organic livestock and
poultry production, bringing it under regulation- a welcome move which might boost organic livestock
production.
Weaknesses
• Feed and fodder: The inadequate supply of required organic feed and fodder may be a limiting
factor while promoting organic livestock farming, since under organic livestock systems, animals
are expected to be fed species specific organic diet in sufficient quantities. Besides, the
feed and fodder requirement has to be met on farm or locally and it has to be grown following
organic crop production methods.
• Sanitary conditions: Prevention of diseases is paramount in organic systems, so that the medicine
interventions like antibiotics etc are minimized to the extent possible. To minimize diseases,
sanitation is important, for which the efforts are needed on massive scale to improve hygiene
and sanitary conditions especially at production, processing and packaging stages.
• Existence of diseases: Among others, the prevalence of Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) in various
parts of India is one limiting factor for export of livestock products, so its control is number
one priority for India. The Disease Free Zones (DFZs) may be created, where; organic livestock
production may be encouraged.
• Small farms: In India, livestock production is mainstay of landless and small scale farmers.
However, the landless animal husbandry is not allowed under the organic systems, unless they
go for land leasing to raise livestock. Contract farming may be a potential solution where many
small farmers may contract out their farms to companies, which may produce organic food products
on consolidated holdings with required expertise and resources.
• Traceability: Unlike in Western countries, milk and meat is sourced from numerous small farmers
in India making the traceability a difficult option. Nevertheless, appreciably, Indian governement
has introduced a web-enabled application- Tracenet system for Organic Products being
exported from India.
• Lack of knowledge, training and certification facilities: Easily accessible information in local
languages, locally available training and certification facilities at an affordable cost to small
farmers is not available in many parts of the country, restricting Indian farmers to switch over to
organic production especially when there is weak domestic market and current poor prospects
for exports in case of livestock products.
Opportunities
It is expensive for intensive livestock producers to convert to organic production, but converting
extensive, pasture-based systems could become economically more attractive, if price premiums
could be captured for organic meat and livestock products (Scialabba & Hattam 2002). India may
follow experiences of developing countries like Argentina, Brazil & Namibia which could export
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