23/10/2019 - Agriculture

Kindly review

KEY POINTS

·        Despite setting up the Gokul Mission for the preservation and promotion of indigenous cattle breeds and curbs on the movement and trade of cows, and vigilantism by self-appointed cow protectors, cattle-keepers continue to prefer cross-bred cows and buffaloes over indigenous cows.

·        While the population of exotic and cross-bred cows has surged by nearly 27 per cent since the last livestock census in 2012, that of the indigenous and non-descript cattle has dipped by 6 per cent. The buffalo count has also risen, even if only marginally.

·        Stray cattle are not enumerated in the livestock census. But anecdotal evidence suggests a sharp increase in their numbers as a result of the ban on the movement and trade of cows.

·        While earlier the old and unproductive cows used to be disposed of in the cattle bazaars, these are now let loose to roam about in the countryside, damaging crop fields and forests and competing with other livestock for fodder and feed resources.

·        The livestock census also shows that the population of several useful but low milk- or non-milk-yielding domesticated animals is dwindling rapidly.

·        These animals cumulatively constitute only about 0.23 per cent of the country’s vast livestock wealth, but these are useful in their own respect, with each one having its own unique qualities.

·        This explains why the population of major milch animals is steady or on the rise while that of the draught animals, which are no longer in much demand due to the availability of mechanical alternatives, is plummeting.

·        The best way to popularise the pure-bred indigenous cows would be to boost their inherent milk yield through selective breeding without altering their typical genetic makeup, which is adapted to local conditions.

·        The policies concerning the movement and marketing of cows also need to be revisited for the benefit of the cattle owners and the overall livestock economy.

Kindly review. Thank you.

Kindly review 

The livestock keepers are play a significant role in development of Indian economy.It is well recognised that humans depends on the animals food and associates by products like dairy products,meat,honey etc..
Recently Ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying has realeased the 20th livestock census report has shown increase in overall population of cattles,pig,goats etc..

CENSUS WHICH REVEALS GOVT POLICIES:-
-The population of exotic and cross bred has been surged nearly 27% in 2012.While the population of indigenous and non descript cattle has been dipped to 6%. The government comes up wth certain measures for improving indigenous cattle breeds..For eg. Gokul mission which encourages for indigenous cattle population.
-The population of indigenous cattle population where decline in central states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharastra, Rajasthan,Madhya Pradesh etc..due to the vigilantism and lynching for that the some of these state government had passed the legislature for cow conversation campaign.
-The census shows that the population of several useful but low milk or non milk yielding domesticated animals which includes donkeys,camels,yaks, horses etc..if it not protected properly the animals may be vanish in near future.
CHALLENGES:-
-Providing training to the livestock keepers is a challenging task either directly by the government or by private.
- Inadequate budget over the livestock sector.
-Limited availability of quality breeding cattles.
- Deficiency over the vaccines and the setting of vaccination.
-Majority of grazing lands are either degrated or encroached.
WAY FORWARD:-
The policy makers should revisit the movement of marketing of cattles and should give a proper plan to targeted the indigenous cattle breeds by their utility.
The government should create the awareness among the people for better coordination to regulate the process.

Kindly review!