Approach to Enhance the Milk Productivity in India: NLM

Authors: Chandan Kumar Rai1, Arti2, Snajeev Kumar1 and Abul K. Azad1
1Ph.D. Scholar, Dairy Extension Division, NDRI, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India
2Ph.D. Scholar, DES&M, NDRI, Karnal-132001, Haryana, India


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 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 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 Mission's emphasis to increase 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 effective procurement systems connecting milk producers.

The Mission's aim is also 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. Rashtriya Gokul Mission has been initiated by the Department with the aim 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 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.

Mission Objectives

The NLM intends to achieve the following

Objectives:

  • Sustainable growth and development of livestock sector, including poultry
  • Increasing availability of fodder and feed to substantially reduce the demand –supply gap through measures which include more area coverage under quality fodder seeds, technology promotion, extension, post - harvest management and processing in consonance with diverse agro -climatic condition.
  • Accelerating production of quality fodder and fodder seeds through effective seed production chain (Nucleus – Breeder –Foundation - Certified-Truthfully labelled, etc.) with active involvement of farmers and in collaboration with the dairy / farmers cooperatives, seed corporations, and private sector enterprises.
  • Establishing convergence and synergy among ongoing Plan programmes and stakeholders for sustainable livestock development.
  • Promoting applied research in prioritized areas of concern in animal nutrition and livestock production.
  • Capacity building of state functionaries and livestock owners through strengthened extension machinery to provide quality extension service to farmers.
  • Promoting skill based training and dissemination of technologies for reducing cost of production, and improving production of livestock sector
  • Promoting initiatives for conservation and genetic upgradation of indigenous breeds of livestock (except bovines which are being covered under another scheme of the Ministry) in collaboration with farmers / farmers’ groups / cooperatives, etc.
  • Encouraging formation of groups of farmers and cooperatives / producers’ companies of small and marginal farmers / livestock owners.
  • Promoting innovative pilot projects and mainstreaming of successful pilots relating to livestock sector.
  • Providing infrastructure and linkage for marketing, processing and value addition, as forward linkage for the farmer’s enterprises.
  • Promoting risk management measures including livestock insurance for farmers.
  • Promoting activities to control and prevent animal diseases, environmental pollution, promoting efforts towards food safety and quality, and supply of quality hides and skins through timely recovery of carcasses.
  • Encouraging community participation on sustainable practices related to animal husbandry, involvement of community in breed conservation and creation of resource map for the states.

Mission Design: The Mission is designed to cover all the activities required to ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholder. The Mission will cover everything germane to improvement of livestock productivity and support projects and initiatives required for that purpose subject to condition that such initiatives which cannot be funded under other Centrally Sponsored Schemes under the Department. The mission is organised into the following four Sub-Missions:

Sub -Mission on Livestock Development: The sub-mission on Livestock Development includes activities to address the concerns for overall development of livestock species including poultry, other than cattle and buffalo, with a holistic approach. Risk Management component of the sub –mission will, however, also cover cattle and buffalo along with other major and minor livestock.

Sub-Mission on Pig Development in North-Eastern Region: There has been persistent demand from the North Eastern States seeking support for all round development of pigs in the region. Therefore, pig development in the North Eastern Region is being taken up as a sub -mission of NLM. The sub -mission will strive to forge synergies of research and development organizations through appropriate interventions, as may be required for holistic development of pigs in the North Eastern Region including genetic improvement, health cover and post-harvest operations.

Sub - Mission on Feed and Fodder Development: The Sub –Mission is designed to address the problems of scarcity of animal feed and fodder resources, to give a push to the livestock sector making it a competitive enterprise for India, and also to harness its export potential. The sub- mission will especially focus on increasing both production and productivity of fodder and feed through adoption of improved and appropriate technologies best suited to specific agro–climatic region in arable and non–arable areas.

Sub-Mission on Skill Development, Technology Transfer and Extension: The extension machinery at field level for livestock activities is not adequately strengthened. As a result, farmers are not able to adopt the technologies developed by research institutions. The adoption of new technologies and practices requires linkages between stakeholders. The sub - mission will provide a platform to develop, adopt or adapt the technologies including frontline field demonstrations in collaboration with farmers, researchers and extension workers, etc. wherever it is not possible to achieve this through existing arrangements.

References:
Press Information Bureau of India. (pib.nic.in)



About Author / Additional Info:
I am currently pursuing PhD (Agricultural Extension Education) at ICAR-NATIONAL DAIRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Karnal-132001, Haryana (INDIA).