Livestock production and agriculture are intrinsically linked, each being dependent on the
other, and both crucial for overall food security. Livestock sector is an important sub-sector of
the agriculture of Indian economy. It forms an important livelihood activity for most of the
farmers, supporting agriculture in the form of critical inputs, contributing to the health and
nutrition of the household, supplementing incomes, offering employment opportunities, and
finally being a dependable “bank on hooves” in times of need. It acts as a supplementary and
complementary enterprise.
India has vast resource of livestock and poultry, which play a vital role in improving the
socio-economic conditions of rural masses. There are about 300 million bovines, 65.07 million
sheep, 135.2 million goats and about 10.3 million pigs as per 19th livestock census in the
country.
Livestock Production
Livestock production and agriculture are intrinsically linked, each being dependent on the
other, and both crucial for overall food security. According to estimates of the Central Statistics
Office (CSO), the value of output livestock sector at current prices was about ₹ 5,91,691 crore
during 2015-16 which is about 28.5 per cent of the value of output from agricultural and allied
sector. At constant prices the value of output from livestock is about 29 per cent of the value of
the output from total agriculture and allied sector. India continues to be the largest producer of
milk in the world. Several measures have been initiated to increase the productivity of livestock,
which has resulted in increasing the milk production significantly from the level of 102.6 million
tonnes at the end of the Tenth Plan (2006-07) to 127.9 million tonnes at the end of the Eleventh
Plan (2011-12).
Milk Production
Milk production during 2015-16 and 2016-17 was 155.5 million tonnes and 165.4 million
tonnes respectively showing an annual growth of 6.37 per cent. The per capita availability of
milk was around 355 grams per day in 2016-17.
Egg Production
Poultry production has taken a quantum leap in the last four decades, emerging from an
unscientific farming practice to commercial production system with state-of-the art technological
interventions. Egg production at the end of the Tenth Plan (2006-07) was 50.70 billion as
compared to 66.45 billion at the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12). Currently the total poultry
population is 729.21 million (as per 19th Livestock Census) and egg production was around
88.14 billion during 2016-17. The per capita availability (2016-17) was around 69 eggs per
annum. The poultry meat production is estimated to be 3.46 million tonnes.
Wool Production
Wool production declined marginally at the end of Eleventh Five Year Plan (2011-12) to
44.7 million kg from 45.1 million kg in the end of Tenth Five Year Plan (2006-07). Wool
production in the beginning of Twelfth Plan (2012-13) was 46.05 million kgs and increased to
48.1 million kgs in 2014-15 but declined to 43.5 million kgs in 2016-17.
Meat Production