National Livestock Mission (NLM) to Ensure Quantitative and Qualitative Improvement in Livestock Production

Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture has said that National Livestock Mission (NLM) launched in FY 2014-15 shall ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders. The Minister was speaking during the Conference of State Ministers of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in New Delhi today.The agriculture Minister said that the Sub-Mission under NLM on Fodder and Feed Development will try to address the problems of scarcity of animal feed resources, in order to give a push to the livestock sector making it a economically viable enterprise for India, and also to harness its export potential. The Agriculture Minister said that the biggest impediment to growth of dairy and livestock productivity is the large-scale prevalence of animal diseases like FMD, PPR, Brucellosis, Avian Influenza etc, which adversely affect the productivity. Taking into account the fact that effective control of a number of animal diseases requires national strategy; the existing scheme of livestock health has been strengthened. Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP) which was under implementation in 221 districts since August, 2010, was extended to all the remaining districts of Uttar Pradesh and all the districts of Rajasthan during 2013-14 thus covering 313 districts as of now. It has been decided that FMD-CP will be extended to whole of India during 12th Plan subject to availability of funds and vaccine. The Minister also said that increase in milk production has to be achieved by increasing productivity of the milch animals rather than increase in the number of animals. In order to encourage farmers to produce more milk, effective system of milk collection has to be ensured so that the farmer is assured of selling his produce at a profitable price which can be ensured by putting in place an effective procurement systems connecting milk producers. Shri Radha Mohan Singh also said Steps are needed to reduce wastage of milk by expanding the cold chain infrastructure in the rural areas to collect and preserve milk till such time it is collected for sale or taken for processing. Systematic planning has to be done for location of bulk milk coolers so that farmers from neighbouring villages can easily access them. He informed that Rashtriya Gokul Mission has been initiated by the Department with the aims to conserve and develop Indigenous Breeds in a focused and scientific manner. Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a focused project under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development, with an outlay of Rs.500 crore during the 12th Five Year Plan. During 2014-15, Rs.150.00 crore has been allocated for development, preservation and conservation of indigenous breeds. The agriculture Minister informed that Government is also proposing to establish “Rashtriya Kamdhenu Breeding Centre” for development, conservation and preservation of Indigenous Breeds as a Centre of Excellence to develop and conserve Indigenous Breeds (37 Cattle and 13 Buffaloes) in a holistic and scientific manner with the aim of enhancing their productivity and upgrading genetic merit. As concerned with fisheries production, the agriculture Minister said that with a production of 9.58 million tonnes in 2013-14, India has maintained its position as a second largest producer of fish in the world contributing 5.7 percent of the total fish production globally. Keeping this in view, the Government is now focusing on Blue revolution in the sector. Blue revolution means an intensive and sustainable growth in fish production providing for food and nutritional security, employment and improved livelihood. The Conference is being attended by Ministers of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries from different States of India, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Secretary, Agriculture & Cooperation, Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR, Chairman, NDDB and other senior officers from Central and State Governments