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GS Paper: GS3-09.Economics of Animal Rearing

  • World Dairy Summit 2022 to be held in India after 48 years

    At a time when several milk-producing centers are battling Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), India will host the International Dairy Federation’s World Dairy Summit 2022 in Greater Noida.

    World Dairy Summit

    • The World Dairy Summit is an annual meeting of the global dairy sector, bringing together approximately 1500 participants from all over the world.
    • The participant profile includes CEOs and employees of dairy processing companies, dairy farmers, suppliers to the dairy industry, academicians, government representatives, etc.
    • The summit is composed of a series of scientific and technical conferences and social events including a welcome reception, farmers’ dinner, gala dinner as well as technical and social tours.
    • The last World Dairy Summit was organised in 1974 in New Delhi.

    Significance of the event

    • It is a prestigious event for us as India is now the largest milk producer in the world and we have the highest number of cattle.
    • The last time this event was held, India was import-dependent and now we are self-sufficient.

    Back2Basics: India’s dairy sector

    • Initiated in 1970, Operation Floodtransformed India into one of the largest milk producers.
    • The per capita availability of milk in 2018-19 was 394 grams per day as against the world average of 302 grams.
    • Today with an annual production of 187.75 million tonnes India accounts for about 22% of the world’s milk production.
    • However, India is yet to join the ranks of major milk exporting nations, as much of what we produce is directed towards meeting domestic demands.

     

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  • Improving livestock breeding

    Context

    The revised version of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and National Livestock Mission (NLM) proposes to bring focus on entrepreneurship development and breed improvement in cattle, buffalo, poultry, sheep, goat, and piggery.

    Livestock breeding and challenges

    • Unorganised in nature: Livestock breeding in India has been largely unorganised.
    • Lack of linkages: Because of this unorganised nature there have been gaps in forward and backward integration across the value chain.
    • Impact on quality: The above scenario impacts the quality of livestock that is produced and in turn negatively impacts the return on investment for livestock farmers.
    • Roughly 80% bovines in the country are low on productivity and are reared by small and marginal farmers.

    Entrepreneurship development through NLM and Rashtriya Gokul Mission

    • The revised version of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and National Livestock Mission (NLM) proposes to bring focus on entrepreneurship development.
    • Breed improvement infrastructure: It seeks to provide incentives to individual entrepreneurs, farmer producer organisations, farmer cooperatives, joint liability groups, self-help groups, Section 8 companies for entrepreneurship development and State governments for breed improvement infrastructure.
    • The breed multiplication farm component of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission is going to provide for capital subsidy up to ₹200 lakh for setting up breeding farm with at least 200 milch cows/ buffalo using latest breeding technology. 
    •  Moreover, the strategy of incentivising breed multiplication farm will result in the employment of 1 lakh farmers.
    • The grassroots initiatives in this sphere will be further amplified by web applications like e-Gopala that provide real-time information to livestock farmers.
    • Poultry: The poultry entrepreneurship programme of the NLM will provide for capital subsidy up to ₹25 lakh for the setting up of a parent farm with a capacity to rear 1,000 chicks.
    • Under this model, the rural entrepreneur running the hatchery will be supplying chicks to the farmers.
    • This is expected to provide employment to at least 14 lakh people.
    • Sheep and goat entrepreneurship: In the context of sheep and goat entrepreneurship, there is a provision of capital subsidy of 50% up to 50 lakh.
    • An entrepreneur under this model shall set up a breeder farm, develop the whole chain will eventually sell the animals to the farmers or in the open market.
    • This model is projected to generate a net profit of more than ₹33 lakh for the entrepreneur per year.
    • Piggery: For piggery, the NLM will provide 50% capital subsidy of up to ₹30 lakh.
    •  Each entrepreneur will be aided with establishment of breeder farms with 100 sows and 10 boars, expected to produce 2,400 piglets in a year.
    • This model is expected to generate a profit of ₹1.37 crore after 16 months and 1.5 lakh jobs.

    Conclusion

    The revised scheme of NLM coupled with the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund has the potential to dramatically enhance the productivity and traceability standards of our livestock.

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  • What is Palk Bay Scheme?

    The Union Government is considering increasing the unit cost of deep-sea fishing vessels under the Palk Bay scheme to make it more attractive to fisherfolk.

    Palk Bay Scheme

    • The Palk Bay Scheme is the official scheme for diversification of trawl fishing boats from Palk Strait into deep sea fishing boats.
    • It is aimed at encouraging fishermen to take up deep-sea fishing and put an end to disputes arising between the India and Sri Lanka.
    • The project helps fishermen in the Palk Straits, who are not exposed to deep-sea fishing, to venture deep into the Indian Ocean, Arabian sea and other deep-sea areas to look for fish like tuna that are in high demand.

    Why need such a scheme?

    • Bottom trawling, an ecologically destructive practice, involves trawlers dragging weighted nets along the sea-floor, causing great depletion of aquatic resources.

    Key components of the scheme

    • The project aims to replace all trawler boats and introduce over 2,000 deep sea fishing boats in a course of five years.
    • The scheme, under the aegis of Blue Revolution scheme – is funded by the Centre – 50 per cent and state government – 20 per cent for a boat costing Rs 80 lakh.
    • Of the balance 30 per cent, 10 per cent is contributed by the beneficiary (fisherman), and the remaining 20 per cent is funded by banks.

    Must read:

    [Burning Issue] India- Sri Lanka Fishermen Issues

     

     

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  • [pib] River Ranching Programme

    The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, is set to launch the River Ranching Programme in Uttar Pradesh under the Namami Gange Programme.

    What is River Ranching?

    • River Ranching is a form of aquaculture in which a population of a fish species (such as salmon) is held in captivity for the first stage of their lives.
    • They are then released, and later harvested as adults when they return from the sea to their freshwater birthplace to spawn.

    Objective

    The key objectives of the program are:

    • To sustain and conserve the biodiversity in the river.
    • Facilitate regular stocking of fingerlings of cultivable carps to enhance productivity
    • Increase fish production
    • Enhance income and livelihood opportunities to communities’ dependent on these resources

    Why need such a program?

    • River ranching helps in achieving sustainable fisheries, reducing habitat degradation, conserving biodiversity, maximising social-economic benefits and would also remove factors causing pollution.
    • In this activity, different species of fish are released in the river, which destroy factors that increase the level of nitrogen.
    • These fishes will also aid in maintaining the cleanliness of the river as they feed on organic remnants.

    Where is the scheme being launched?

    • In Uttar Pradesh, about 15 lakh fish fingerlings of native carp species shall be simultaneously released into the river in 12 districts by the department.
    • These districts include Bulandshahr/Hapur, Hardoi, Bijnor, Amroha, Fatehpur, Kanpur, Badayun, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi and Ghazipur.
    • Four other states namely Uttarakhand, Orissa, Tripura and Chhattisgarh will also witness the launching of nationwide River Ranching program.

     

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  • [pib] National Digital Livestock Mission

    The Union Minister of State Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying unveiled the National Digital Livestock Mission Blueprint.

    National Digital Livestock Mission

    • The NDLM would be a digital platform developed by Dept. of Dairy and Animal Husbandry on the foundation of the existing Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH).
    • It aims to create a farmer-centric, technology-enabled ecosystem where the farmers are able to realize better income through livestock activities with the right information.
    • The bedrock of NDLM will be the unique identification of all livestock, which will be the foundation for all the state and national level programmes including domestic and international trade.
    • The farmers will be able to effortlessly access the markets, irrespective of their location or holdings through this digital platform as a wide-range of stake-holders will be connected in this ecosystem.
    • This system will also include robust animal breeding systems, nutrition, disease surveillance, disease control programmes and a traceability mechanism for animals and animal products.

    Why need such mission?

    • The livestock sector has a unique combination of being the backbone of rural livelihood.
    • The growth would have been a lot better if there were concerted efforts to harmonise programmes across the country in order to create an ecosystem that is conducive for growth of the sector.
    • This has been the main idea behind the deployment of NDLM, keeping the welfare of the farmer at the core.

    Back2Basics: National Livestock Mission

    • National Livestock Mission is an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
    • The mission, which commenced from 2014-15, has the objective of sustainable development of the livestock sector.
    • NABARD is the subsidy channelising agency for following schemes, under Entrepreneurship Development & Employment Generation (EDEG) component of National Livestock Mission.
    1. Poultry Venture Capital Fund (PVCF)
    2. Integrated Development of Small Ruminants and Rabbit (IDSRR)
    3. Pig Development (PD)
    4. Salvaging and Rearing of Male Buffalo Calves (SRMBC)
    5. Effective Animal Waste Management
    6. Construction of Storage Facility for Feed and Fodder

     

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  • Odisha’s Manda buffalo gets unique, indigenous tag

    The National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) has recognized the Manda buffalo, found in the Eastern Ghats and plateau of Koraput region of Odisha, as the 19th unique breed of buffaloes found in India.

    Manda Buffalo

    • The Manda are resistant to parasitic infections, less prone to diseases and can live, produce and reproduce at low or nil input systems.
    • These buffaloes have ash grey and grey coat with copper-coloured hair.
    • The lower part of the legs up to the elbow is light in colour with copper colour hair at the knee. Some animals are silver-white in colour.
    • Four breeds of cattle — Binjharpuri, Motu, Ghumusari and Khariar — and two breeds of buffalo — Chilika and Kalahandi — and one breed of sheep, Kendrapada, have already received NBAGR recognition.

    Their economic significance

    • The small, sturdy buffaloes are used for ploughing in their native habitat of the Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts.
    • There are around 1,00,000 buffaloes of this breed in the native tract mostly contributing to the family nutrition of households and assisting in all the agricultural operations in the undulated hilly terrain for generations.
    • The average milk yield of these buffaloes is 2 to 2.5 litres in single milking with more than 8% fat. However, a few of those yield up to 4 litres.
    • After going through the findings, the NBAGR made an assessment and recognised it as an indigenous and unique buffalo.

    Now pls do not ignore this PYQ:

    Q.What is/are unique about ‘Kharai Camel’, a breed found in India?

    1. It is capable of swimming up to three kilometres in seawater.
    2. It survives by grazing on mangroves.
    3. It lives in the wild and cannot be domesticated.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”7b5fqwlhhm” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

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  • Poultry Farm Establishment Rules

    Small and marginal poultry farmers in India will now have to take measures similar to their bigger counterparts to prevent environmental pollution, according to new guidelines issued recently by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

    What are the new guidelines?

    (A) Establishment

    • Consent to Operate: The new guidelines state that for establishing and operating a medium-sized poultry farm of 25,000-100,000 birds, a farmer will have to obtain a certificate of Consent. Permission will be valid for 15 years.
    • Designated Authority: This will have to be taken from the State Pollution Control Board or Committee under the Water Act, 1974, and the Air Act, 1981. The Animal Husbandry Department will be responsible for implementing the guidelines at the state and district level.
    • Location: A farm should be set up 500 metres away from a residential area, 100 metres from rivers, lakes, canals, and drinking water sources, 100 metres from national highways, and 10-15 metres from village footpaths and rural roads.

    (B) Operational directives

    • Ventilated farms: The guidelines state that the poultry farm should have a ventilated room to reduce the gaseous pollution from the birds.
    • Wastewater management: Also, care should be taken so that poultry feces do not mix with running water or any other pesticide.
    • Manure generation: Farmers of small- and medium-sized poultry farms will have to arrange for manure. After use, the water from a poultry farm must be collected in a tank. The guidelines suggest using it in horticulture.
    • Disposal of deads: Emphasis has also been given to the daily removal of birds that die, through burial, without harming the environment. Burial should be done three metres above the groundwater level.

    (C) Large/ Small Farmer

    The new guidelines have defined who is a ‘large’ or ‘small’ poultry farmer in India.

    • Those who have 5,000-25,000 birds are small farmers.
    • Those who have more than 25,000 and less than 100,000 birds are medium farmers.
    • Those who have more than 100,000 birds are large farmers.

    Why need such regulation?

    • Poultry, hatchery and piggery were considered ‘green’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in its guidelines of 2015.
    • This meant they were exempt from the air, water, and environmental protection laws.
    • Gaseous emissions and waste are major problems in poultry farming.
    • The feces of poultry birds emit gaseous ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and methane, all of which produce odors.

    Poultry sector of India

    • According to the 20th Livestock Census 2020, there are 851.8 million poultry birds in India.
    • About 30 percent (250 million) of this is ‘backyard poultry’ or small and marginal farmers.
    • According to the 19th Livestock Census, the number of such farmers is about 30 million.
    • Chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, etc, are reared in poultry farms for meat and eggs. Chickens that are reared for eggs are called ‘laying hens’ or ‘layers’. Those reared for meat are called ‘broilers’.

    According to the 20th Livestock Census, Tamil Nadu (120 million), Andhra Pradesh (107 million), Telangana (79 million), West Bengal (77 million), Maharashtra (74 million), Karnataka (59 million crores), Assam (46 million) and Kerala (29 million) have the highest poultry populations.

    Try answering this PYQ:

    Consider the following statements:

    1. Agricultural soils release nitrogen oxides into environment.
    2. Cattle release ammonia into environment.
    3. Poultry industry releases reactive nitrogen compounds into environment.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 and 3 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 2 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”gv4dtzo9jr” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed

    Context

    The government recently announced a Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed.

    Why availability of good and affordable quality feed and fodder matters

    • A study by the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute has observed that for every 100 kg of feed required, India is short of 23.4 kg of dry fodder, 11.24 kg of green fodder, and 28.9 kg of concentrate feed.
    • Low milk productivity: The lack of good quality feed and fodder impacts the productivity levels of cattle.
    • This is one of the chief reasons why Indian livestock’s milk productivity is 20%-60% lower than the global average.
    • High input cost: If we break down the input costs, we find that feed constitutes 60%-70% of milk production costs.
    • When the National Livestock Mission was launched in 2014, it focused on supporting farmers in producing fodder from non-forest wasteland/grassland, and cultivation of coarse grains.
    • However, this model could not sustain fodder availability due to a lack of backward and forward linkages in the value chain.

    Why Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed is significant

    • As about 200 million Indians are involved in dairy and livestock farming, the scheme is important from the perspective of poverty alleviation.
    • The Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed intends to create a network of entrepreneurs who will make silage (the hub) and sell them directly to the farmers (the spoke).
    • Bringing down the input cost: The large-scale production of silage will bring down the input cost for farmers since silage is much cheaper than concentrate feed.
    • Objective: The revised scheme has been designed with the objectives of increasing productivity, reducing input costs, and doing away with middlemen (who usually take a huge cut).
    • Since India has a livestock population of 535.78 million, effective implementation of this scheme will play a major role in increasing the return on investment for our farmers.

    About the Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed

    • The scheme will provide 50% capital subsidy up to ₹50 lakh towards project cost to the beneficiary for infrastructure development and for procuring machinery for value addition in feed such as hay/silage/total mixed ration.
    • Private entrepreneurs, self-help groups, farmer producer organizations, dairy cooperative societies, and Section 8 companies (NGOs) can avail themselves of the benefits under this scheme.
    • The scheme can be used for covering the cost of infrastructure/machinery such as bailing units, harvester, chaff cutter, sheds, etc.

    Challenges and solution

    • Seasonal availability: A major challenge in the feed sector emanates from the fact that good-quality green fodder is only available for about three months during the year.
    • Fermenting green fodder: Ideal solution would be to ferment green fodder and convert it into silage.
    • Hence, under the fodder entrepreneurship program, farmers will receive subsidies and incentives to create a consistent supply chain of feed throughout the year.

    Conclusion

    The mission will help marginal farmers reduce their input costs and help them in increasing the return on capital employed.

  • [pib] IndiGau: India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip

    The National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad has launched a chip called IndiGau.

    IndiGau

    • IndiGau is India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip for the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds like, Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc.
    • It is purely indigenous and the largest cattle chip in the world.
    • It has 11,496 markers more than that placed on 777K Illumina chip of US & UK breeds.
    • The manufacturing of this chip is in synergy with Rashtriya Gokul Mission and is a great example of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

    Utility of IndiGau

    • Indigenous bovines are robust and resilient and are particularly suited to the climate and environment of their respective breeding tracts,
    • Their productivity is less likely to be impacted by the adversities of climate change.
    • The milk of indigenous animals is high in fat and SNF (solids-not-fat) content.

    (SNF content are the substances in milk other than butterfat and water in the form of casein, lactose, vitamins, and minerals which contribute significantly to the nutritive value of milk.)

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    Back2Basics: National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development

    • The NPBBDD has been formulated by merging four ongoing schemes of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in the dairy sector.
    • It was launched in Feb 2014.
    • This merger has been done to integrate milk production and dairying activities in a scientific and holistic manner to meet the increasing demand for milk in the country.

    Components of the scheme

    NPBBDD has the following three components.

    • National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB)
    • National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) and
    • Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

    Differences between all these schemes:

    1) National Programme for Bovine Breeding

    It aims-

    • To arrange quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep
    • To bring all breedable females under organized breeding through Artificial Insemination or natural service using germplasm of high genetic merits

    2) National Programme for Dairy Development

    It aims-

    • To create and strengthen infrastructure for the production of quality milk including cold chain infrastructure linking the farmer to the consumer
    • To strengthen dairy cooperative societies/Producers Companies at the village level
    • To increase milk production by providing technical input services like cattle-feed, and mineral mixture etc.

    3) Rashtriya Gokul Mission

    It aims-

    • To undertake breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock.
    • To enhance milk production and productivity of indigenous bovines.
    • To upgrade nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi.

  • Why the dairy sector needs more private players

    One of India’s largest dairy cooperative societies has just raised its milk prices for consumers by Rs 2/litre and this has become national news.

    Sparking off a debate

    • Many in the media are debating how this will push up Consumer Price Index causing inflationary pressures, which may soon force the RBI to change its “accommodative stance” on monetary policy.

    Why such hues over Milk?

    Milk is an important case study for our overall agriculture sector.

    • First, milk is our biggest agri-commodity in terms of value, greater than paddy (rice), wheat, and sugarcane combined.
    • Second, India is the largest producer of milk in the world with an estimated production of about 208 million tonnes in 2020-21, way above its closest competitor, the US, whose milk production hovers around 100 million tonnes.
    • Third, our dairy sector is dominated by smallholders with an average herd size of 4-5 animals.
    • Fourth, and this is important, there is no minimum support price (MSP) for milk. It is more like a contract between the company and the farmers.

    How is the milk price determined?

    • The price of milk is largely determined by the overall forces of demand and supply.
    • Increasing costs of production enter through the supply side, but the demand side cannot be ignored.
    • As a result of all this, the overall growth in the dairy sector for the last 20 years has been between 4-5 per cent per annum, and lately, it has accelerated to even 6 per cent.

    Concerns of dairy farmers

    • For dairy farmers, this increase in milk prices is not commensurate to the increase in their feed and other costs, and they feel that their margins are getting squeezed.
    • They also feel that this price still does not count their logistics cost.

    Transformation since Op Flood

    • It is well known that “Operation Flood” (OF) that started in the 1970s transformed this sector.
    • The institutional innovation of a cooperative model, steered by Verghese Kurien, changed the structure of this sector.
    • However, even after five decades, cooperatives processed only 10 per cent of the overall milk production.
    • India needed the double-engine force of the organised private sector to process another 10 per cent.
    • The doors for the private sector were opened partially with the 1991 reforms, but fully in 2002-03 under the leadership of Vajpayee, when the dairy sector was completely de-licenced.

    Rise of dairypreneurs

    • Many start-ups “dairypreneurs” have come in promising a farm-to-home experience of milk.
    • There is one company that delivers fresh milk at the consumer’s doorstep and gives quality testing kits at home.
    • These have digitized cattle health, milk production, milk procurement, milk testing, and cold chain management.

    Effective breeding

    • Sexed semen technology helps in predetermining the sex of offspring by sorting X and Y chromosomes from the natural sperm mix.
    • This can solve the problem of unwanted bulls on Indian roads.
    • Although the current cost of sexed sorted semen is high, Maharashtra has taken a bold step in subsidizing it for artificial insemination.

    Way forward

    • The upshot of all this is that let prices be determined by market forces, with marginal support from the government or cooperatives in times of extreme.
    • The major focus should be on innovations to cut down costs, raise productivity, ensure food safety, and be globally competitive.
    • That will help both farmers and consumers alike.
    • The cooperatives did a great job during OF, and are still doing that, but the private sector entering this sector in a big way has opened the gates of creativity and competition.