Basic Animal
Husbandry Statistics 2024
- ECONOMY
NEWS: The Union
Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying released the annual
publication of ‘Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024’ on the occasion of
National Milk Day.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
What is Animal Husbandry?
- Animal
husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with the breeding,
raising, and care of domesticated animals such as cattle,
buffaloes, goats, sheep, pigs, and poultry.
- It
plays a critical role in ensuring food security through the production
of milk, meat, eggs, and other animal-based
products.
- In
India Animal Husbandry contributes 16% to the income of
small farm households.
·
It provides employment to
about 8.8 % of the population in India.
BAHS- 2024: Key Findings
- The
Milk Production was 239.30 million tonnes in
2023-24, marking a 5.62% growth over the last decade and 3.78% increase
over 2022-23.
·
Top Producing States: Uttar
Pradesh (16.21%), Rajasthan (14.51%) and Madhya Pradesh (8.91%).
·
India remains the largest producer globally.
- The
Egg Production was 142.77 billion eggs in
2023-24, achieving a 6.8% growth over the last decade and a 3.18% rise
over 2022-23.
·
Top Producing States: Andhra
Pradesh (17.85%), Tamil Nadu (15.64%) and Telangana (12.88%).
·
India
is ranked second worldwide.
- Total
Meat Production was 10.25 million tonnes in
2023-24, showing a 4.85% growth over the last decade and a 4.95% increase
over 2022-23.
·
Top Producing States: West
Bengal (12.62%), Uttar Pradesh (12.29%) and Maharashtra (11.28%)
- Total
Wool Production in 2023-24, registered a 0.22%
growth over the previous year. However, a decline from 2019-20
was noted.
·
Top Producing States: Rajasthan
(47.53%), Jammu & Kashmir (23.06%) and Gujarat (6.18%).
Challenges in Animal Husbandry
- Disease
Management: Outbreaks such as
foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza threaten productivity.
- Feed
and Fodder Deficiency: Inadequate availability of
quality fodder and feed increases costs and reduces yields.
- Low
Productivity: Indigenous breeds have lower
yields compared to exotic breeds.
- Climate
Change: Rising temperatures and erratic
weather patterns affect livestock health and production.
- Lack
of Infrastructure: Insufficient cold chains,
storage facilities, and veterinary services impede growth.
Steps taken by government
- Rashtriya
Gokul Mission (RGM): It was launched to enhance
the productivity and genetic improvement of indigenous cattle.
- National
Livestock Mission (NLM): It focuses on
increasing the productivity of livestock, improving their health, and
providing support for fodder and feed resources.
- Dairy
Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF): It
supports infrastructure development for milk processing and value
addition.
- Animal
Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF): It
provides financial support for private sector investment in dairy and meat
processing.
- Livestock
Health and Disease Control (LHDC) Programme: It
strengthens disease surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment to improve
animal health.
- Pashu
Aadhaar: A unique identification system for
livestock, ensuring better management and tracking.
Way Ahead
- Technological
Interventions: Adoption of precision farming,
AI in breeding, and climate-resilient practices.
- Capacity
Building: Training farmers in modern techniques
and disease management.
- Breed
Improvement: Crossbreeding programs to
enhance productivity while maintaining genetic diversity.