ri lt re and ood ana ement 8.17
(iv) Functions as the best insurance against (i) Improving productivity of milch animals,
drought, famine and other natural (ii) Strengthening and expanding village-level
calamities; infrastructure for milk procurement, and
(v) It is more inclusive in nature; and (iii) Providing producers greater access to the
(vi) Promotes the cause of sustainable market in the dairy sector.
agriculture. Pig Rearing Scheme: This scheme is aimed to
The significance of this sector can be seen by the assist farmers/landless labourers/co-operatives
following facts: and the tribals particularly in the North-Eastern
(i) The livestock sector as a whole achieved an states by rearing pigs under stall fed condition
average growth rate of 4.5 per cent during for quality pork production and organised pork
the 12th Plan which is higher than the marketing in rural areas and semi-urban areas. The
farm sector growth (3.5 per cent) and the main objectives of the scheme are:
foodgrains growth (around 1 per cent). (i) Encourage commercial rearing by
(ii) The livestock population of India is adopting scientific methods and
around 530 million. It accounts for infrastructure creation;
about 26 per cent of the total agricultural, (ii) Production and supply of improved germ
fishing and forestry sectors. plasm;
(iii) Meat production has a growth rate of (iii) Organise stakeholders to popularise
5.7 per cent with a total production of scientific practices;
4.8 million tonne (still this sector has (iv) Create supply chain for the meat industry;
huge demand-supply gap and there is (v) Encourage value addition for better
enormous scope of expansion. income.
Dairy Sector: India ranks first in the world in Adequate availability of feed and fodder for
milk production with a production of around livestock is vital for increasing milk production
155.5 million tonne and the per capita availability and sustaining the ongoing genetic improvement
(pca) of 326 grams (world pca is 296 grams) by programme. Green fodder shortage in the country
the end of 2015–16. is estimated at about 34 per cent. The central
Some of the important GoI programmes/schemes government has put in place a modified Centrally
for meeting the growing demand of milk: Sponsored Fodder and Feed Development
Scheme since 2014 to supplement the efforts of
Intensive Dairy Development Programme.
the states to improve fodder production. Besides,
Strengthening Infrastructure for Quality the Accelerated Fodder Development Programme
and Clean Milk Production, Assistance was launched as a component of the Rashtriya
to Cooperatives. Krishi Vikas Yojana in 2011–12 to promote
Dairy Entrepreneurship Development production of fodder.
Scheme.
Animal Health: With the improvement in the
National Project for Cattle and Buffalo quality of livestock through launching of extensive
Breeding. cross-breeding programmes, the susceptibility
A new scheme, the National Dairy Plan, Phase to various diseases, including exotic diseases
I, has been launched in March 2012 with the has increased. In order to reduce morbidity
following objectives: and mortality, efforts are being made by the