Lok Sabha Question No. 1598 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-03
Subject: Livelihood through Animal Husbandry
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: VEENA DEVI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING & FISHERIES LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1598 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  MAY, 2016

## LIVELIHOOD THROUGH ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

## 1598. SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTUREAND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और कृ िक कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether small and marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers are earning a livelihood through animal husbandry;
- (b) if  so,  the  number  of  families  which  earn  their  livelihood  through  animal  husbandry  in  the country and the average number of livestock held by these families, category-wise;
- (c) the average per animal quantum of milk production of cows and buffaloes in the country; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to promote animal husbandry among farmers to earn their livelihood?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIYA)

- (a) Yes.
- (b) National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted a Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural  Households  during  NSS  70th  round  (January  2013-  December  2013)  in  the rural areas of the country with respect to the agricultural year July 2012- June 2013. As per the  results  obtained  from  the  survey,  out  of  the  estimated  90.2  million  agricultural households in the rural India, 71.9% reported to have engaged in livestock activity during the 365 days prior to the date of survey and 3.7% of the agricultural households reported livestock  activity  as  their  principal  source  of  income.  In  the  lowest  size  class  of  land possessed  (<0.01  hectare)  which  also  included  landless  agricultural  households,91.8%  of the  agricultural  households  were  estimated  as  engaged  in  livestock  activity  and  22.9% agricultural households reported it as their principal source of income. From the results of survey  on  Land  and  Livestock  Holdings,  conducted  by  NSSO  during  its  70th  round (January  2013-  December  2013)    the  category-wise  estimated  average  number  of  major species of livestock owned per 100 households is given in the following table:
- (c)  The  average  per  animal  production  of  milk  of  exotic/crossbred  cows  is  7.15  kg  per  day, indigenous/non-descript cows is 2.54 kg per day and buffaloes is 5.15 kg per day in the country during 2014-15.
- (d) In order to complement and supplement the efforts made by the States/UTs to promote Animal Husbandry among farmers to earn their  livelihood,  Government  of  India  has  initiated  following steps.
- (i) National Programme for Bovine Breeding & Dairy Development (NPBBDD) aims to enhance milk production and productivity and strengthen infrastructure available in the country for milk procurement, processing and marketing.
- (ii) 'RashtriyaGokul  Mission'  as  a  part  of  NPBBDD  aiming  at  development  and conservation of indigenous breeds.
- (iii) National  Dairy  Plan-I  in  18  major  dairy  States  contributing  90%  of  the  milk production of the country.  The NDP-I aims to meeting the demand of milk through genetic upgradation of bovines and strengthening village based procurement system.
- (iv) Dairy  Entrepreneurship  Development  Scheme  to  generate  self-employment  and provide dairy infrastructure.
- (v) National  Livestock  Mission  with  the  objective  of  sustainable  development  of livestock  sector  and  also  caters  to  enhancement  of  quality  feed  and  fodder  in  the country as well as skill development, technology transfer and Extension to provide a platform to develop or adapt the knowledge  in collaboration with farmers, researchers and extension workers.
- (vi) Livestock Health & Disease Control schemes for prevention, control and containment of animal diseases.

| Average number of livestock owned per 100 households during 2013   | Average number of livestock owned per 100 households during 2013   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
| category                                                           | average number of livestock owned per 100 households               |
| cattle &buffaloes                                                  | 130.9                                                              |
| sheep &goat                                                        | 63.4                                                               |
| pig                                                                | 3.7                                                                |
| horse &pony                                                        | 0.4                                                                |
| camel                                                              | 0.7                                                                |
| Source: NSS Report No. 572: Livestock Ownership in India           | Source: NSS Report No. 572: Livestock Ownership in India           |

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