India 2018

54 India 2018
Under field progeny testing programme, 30 bulls were introduced for test
mating. In herds of Murrah and Nili-Ravi buffaloes, average lactation milk yield
was 2,598 kg and 2,564 kg, respectively, which were reportedly the highest ever
since inception of the project.
Animal Husbandry, , Dairying and Fisheries
Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries activities, along with agriculture,
continue to be an integral part of human life since the process of civilization
started. These activities have contributed not only to the food basket and draught
animal power but also by maintaining ecological balance. Owing to conducive
climate and topography, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries sectors have
played prominent socio-economic role in India. Traditional, cultural and
religious beliefs have also contributed in the continuance of these activities.
They further also play a significant role in generating gainful 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.
Livestock production and agriculture are intrinsically linked, each being
dependent on the other, and both crucial for overall food security. Livestock
sector is an important subsector of the agriculture of Indian economy. It forms
an important livelihood activity for most of the farmers, supporting agriculture
in the form of critical inputs, contributing to the health and nutrition of the
household, supplementing incomes, offering employment opportunities, and
finally being a dependable "bank on hooves" in times of need. It acts as a
supplementary and complementary enterprise.
India has vast resource of livestock and poultry, which play a vital role in
improving the socio-economic conditions of rural masses. There are about 300
million bovines, 65.07 million sheep, 135.2 million goats and about 10.3 million
pigs as per 19th livestock census in the country.
Livestock Production
Livestock production and agriculture are intrinsically linked, each being
dependent on the other, and both crucial for overall food security. According to
estimates of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the value of output livestock
sector at current prices was about ` 5,91,691 crore during 2015-16 which is about
28.5 per cent of the value of output from agricultural and allied sector. At
constant prices the value of output from livestock is about 29 per cent of the
value of the output from total agriculture and allied sector. India continues to
be the largest producer of milk in the world. Several measures have been initiated
to increase the productivity of livestock, which has resulted in increasing the
milk production significantly from the level of 102.6 million tonnes at the end
of the Tenth Plan (2006-07) to 127.9 million tonnes at the end of the Eleventh
Plan (2011-12). Milk production during 2014-15 and 2015-16 is 146.3 million
tonnes and 155.5 million tonnes respectively showing an annual growth of 6.27
per cent. The per capita availability of milk is around 337 grams per day in
2015-16.