Volume - Indian Dairy Association

7great potential no strategy has been developed for its improvement. Thereis no central sector or centrally sponsored schemes for development ofsmall ruminants. This sector appears to have been completely neglected.18. As indicated earlier, in the case of Pig production, there a mismatchbetween the consumption and production centers. While the majordemand of bacon and other products is in the NE, the production is limitedto areas of Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. It is suggested that thepresent approach of individual farming should be replaced by clusterapproach in the NE region with simultaneous development of processingfacilities.19. Although the poultry sector has been completely commercialized,backyard poultry offers scope in the rural areas for providing income toweaker sections of the community. The Central Avian Research Institutehas developed suitable technologies for development of backyard poultry,which would enhance its productivity and returns. It must, however, berealized that in view of competition from the commercial sector, backyardpoultry has to be considered essentially as a sector limiting itself forproviding livelihood opportunities to landless and resource poor farmers.20. In the case of animal health, the major emphasis is limited toproviding curative treatment by opening hospitals and dispensaries. Thedisease investigation support is quite weak. Most of these facilities arestationary in nature, thereby, reducing their efficiency. The present strategyshould be replaced by mission mode approach. A national network on thedisease investigation and reporting should be established. Epizootic mapson the occurrence of various diseases in various parts of the country shouldbe prepared. A strategy to stamp out the diseases should be developed andimplemented following the approach adopted in eradication of Rinderpestdisease. The existing manpower with the state veterinary and animalhusbandry department is not sufficient to provide services at the doorstepof the farmers. This gap can be filled by putting more emphasis on trainingof paravets who would be in a position to provide the desired services andrelieving the veterinary doctors to assume higher responsibilities. Theproduction of vaccine is an area which needs to be privatized either