Over 2 Lakh Livestock Farmers Join Virtual Drive for Rural Livestock Upliftment

In a landmark initiative to promote livestock entrepreneurship and rural economic development, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAHD), in collaboration with the Panchayati Raj Ministry, conducted a massive Virtual Awareness Program aimed at livestock farmers across Northern and North-Eastern India, along with Bihar. The event, chaired by Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, marked a significant leap forward in the government’s efforts to deliver agricultural reforms directly to grassroots stakeholders.

Held on July 23, 2025, the program was hosted via the Common Service Centres (CSCs) network, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. With participation from over 2 lakh livestock farmers through more than 4,000 CSCs spread across 16 States and Union Territories, the outreach was truly national in scale. Notable states included Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Ladakh.

Minister's Address: Enabling Livestock-Driven Rural Growth

Prof. Baghel, addressing the virtual gathering, emphasized the transformative potential of livestock entrepreneurship in uplifting rural livelihoods. He encouraged farmers to actively utilize government welfare and infrastructure schemes, specifically highlighting:

• Artificial Insemination and Genomic Selection as tools for scientific breed improvement

• Adoption of biosecurity protocols to ensure herd health

• Utilization of the Animal Husbandry Kisan Credit Card (AHD KCC) for financial support

• Participation in vaccination programs, particularly against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

Reiterating India's global dominance in dairy with 25% of world milk production, the Minister stated that livestock farming is not just a source of subsistence but a path to sustainable and scalable rural income. He lauded the success of the FMD-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, noting that over 100 crore FMD vaccine doses have already been administered, significantly reducing disease burden and enhancing productivity.

Prof. Baghel also called for structural reform in the sector by transitioning livestock cooperatives into the organized sector, thereby improving market access, governance, and profit margins for rural producers.

High-Level Officials Reinforce Last-Mile Outreach

Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), underscored the department’s commitment to last-mile delivery of veterinary and breeding services, particularly in the underserved North-Eastern and hilly regions. She called on local farmers to exploit the untapped potential of their geography for specialized livestock and dairy production, including indigenous breeds.

Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, DAHD, further highlighted the need for science-led productivity enhancement. She specifically advocated for:

• Sex-Sorted Semen technology to control progeny sex ratio

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) for superior breed propagation

• Scaling up tech-driven extension services through digital channels and mobile platforms

The two senior officers also interacted with CSC operators and farmers, sharing success stories and offering clarity on available schemes, encouraging a feedback loop for continuous improvement of government programs.

Digital Platforms as Enablers of Inclusive Policy Implementation

The Virtual Awareness Program featured expert-led training modules, informational videos, and interactive Q&A sessions to demystify government schemes and explain modern livestock management practices. Topics ranged from nutritional planning and disease surveillance to financial support systems and insurance schemes.

This event marked a model example of how digital infrastructure, especially CSCs, can be leveraged to deliver targeted interventions to farmers in real time. The CSCs acted not just as technical intermediaries but also as knowledge hubs, reinforcing the government’s resolve to ensure equality of access for remote and underserved populations.

Livestock Sector’s Role in Viksit Bharat Vision

With a robust focus on self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and the goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, the livestock sector has emerged as a pillar of rural development and nutritional security. Government initiatives like the National Livestock Mission (NLM), Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), and Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) have laid the foundation for:

• Job creation in rural areas

• Doubling of farmers’ income

• Diversification from crop to mixed farming systems

• Boosting exports of dairy and animal products

The program reiterated that realizing India’s Viksit Bharat aspiration will depend not just on macroeconomic policies, but on the empowerment of the smallest economic unit—the rural livestock farmer.

Bridging the Knowledge Gap for Livestock Transformation

As the curtains closed on this groundbreaking virtual initiative, it was evident that the integration of technology, policy, and grassroots engagement has begun to redefine India’s livestock narrative. With enthusiastic participation from over two lakh farmers and strong backing from the government, India is charting a clear course towards inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-led rural growth.