Despite Govt efforts India still far behind in Annual Productivity of Cattle

Pashu Sandesh, 05 April 2021

As per the Integrated Sample Survey average annual productivity of cattle in India during 2019-20 is 1777 kg per animal per year as against the world average of 2699 kg per animal per year during 2019 (as per FAO Statistics). This information was provided by the minister of state for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan.

The average productivity of cattle has increased by 27.95% between 2013-14 and 2019-20 which is the highest increase in productivity in the World, but it still far behind when compared to world averages. In order to complement and supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories Government of India has been implementing the following schemes to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines:

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
• National Dairy Plan-I (continued upto November 2019).
• Breed Improvement Institutes comprising of 7 Central Cattle Breeding Farms and 4 Central Herd Registration Units.

In addition, the Government is also implementing National Animal Disease Control Programme for control and eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis in the country and Feed and Fodder Development under National Livestock Mission to enhance the availability of feed and fodder in the country.

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been implementing National Livestock Mission and assistance is made available under the scheme to the States and Union territories for livestock insurance under the component of Risk Management and Insurance. The scheme covers indigenous/crossbred milch animals, pack animals (Horses, Donkey, Mules, Camels, Ponies and Cattle/Buffalo), and other Livestock (Goat, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbit, Yak and Mithun etc.). The scheme is optional, not mandatory and implemented with the following funding pattern:   (i) Central share 25%, State share 25% and Beneficiary share 50% for Above Poverty Line (APL), and Central share 40%, State share 30%, and Beneficiary share 30% for Below Poverty Line (BPL) / SC / ST in Normal Areas; (ii) Central share 35%, State share 25% and Beneficiary share 40% for APL, and Central share 50%, State share 30%, and Beneficiary share 20% for Below Poverty Line (BPL) / SC / ST in North Eastern Region (NER) / Hill areas / Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas and (iii) Central share 45%, State share 25% and Beneficiary share 30% for APL, and Central share 60%, State share 30%, and Beneficiary share 10% for BPL / SC / ST in Difficult Areas.

Information on the number of cows being transported is not collected by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. However, as per the Livestock Census, the 2020 total Milch cattle population has increased by 10.44% from 67.54 million in 2012 to 74.59 million in 2019. This is due to the programmes initiated by the Government of India such as the Rashtriya Gokul Mission for the development and conservation of the bovine population including the cattle population in the country.