Animal husbandry contributes nearly one-fourth of India’s agricultural GDP. Discuss how animal husbandry has emerged as a dependable source of livelihood and income diversification for Indian farmers.

Answer: Model Answer approach

“Animal Husbandry as a dependable source of livelihood and income for farmers” is the major heading of the response. It may be organized as shown below. 

Overview: Describe animal husbandry and its components.  Provide information about agriculture’s part in animal husbandry. 

• The area of agriculture that deals with animals raised for their meat, fiber, milk, and other products is called animal husbandry. Among its branches are meat, poultry, dairy, and aquaculture.  over 5% of India’s GDP comes from animal husbandry, which accounts for over a fourth of the country’s agricultural GDP. With a compound annual growth rate of 8% over the past few years, the industry has been expanding at an astounding rate.

Body: Farmers can rely on animal husbandry as a stable source of income and subsistence. You must provide evidence, examples, and illustrations to give your statements greater meaning. 

For farmers, animal husbandry is a reliable source of revenue and livelihood. 

• The advantages of diversifying their revenue streams are becoming more widely acknowledged by farmers. By generating an extra source of income, animal husbandry lessens reliance on a single crop. Livestock’s share of the GVA of the entire agriculture and related sectors (at constant prices) climbed from 24.32 percent in 2014–15 to 30.13 percent in 2020–21.
• Since animals may be a reliable source of products like milk or eggs all year long, raising livestock frequently yields a more steady and predictable income than growing crops. Regular milk production is a result of milking animals. In 2020–21, milk output was 209.96 million tons, and in 2021–22, it was 221.06 million tons, indicating a 5.29% annual rise.

Provide a link between rural development and animal husbandry in your conclusion.  Finish with the Ashok Dalwai Committee’s agricultural recommendations. Finally, bring up India’s objective of doubling farmer income.

• Economic development, which affects agriculture, rural jobs, and food security, depends on animal husbandry. The Ashok Dalwai Committee promotes a comprehensive strategy that uses sustainable methods and technology, positioning the industry as a major force behind India’s economic growth and poverty alleviation. Encouraging animal husbandry could contribute to farmers earning twice as much money.

Practice Question

Question: Changing consumer preferences and global trade opportunities have enhanced the importance of animal husbandry in India. Evaluate the potential of value-added livestock products in boosting farmer income and India’s export competitiveness. (Answer in 250 words)

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