Livestock Population Dynamics in Central India: A District-level Analysis of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

In this study, we assessed the dynamics of district-level livestock population in two central states of India, viz. Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh during the period 2012-19. The analytical tools comprised of simple descriptive statistics and fitting exponential trend equations. We found temporal variations in shares of different species to total district-wise livestock population. While population of cattle declined in Madhya Pradesh, the same registered a minor increase in Chhattisgarh. The reverse situation was observed in case of buffaloes. Dynamics of changes in small ruminant population pointed towards the increasing importance of goats as compared to sheep. Although, cattle is the livestock species on which the rural population mostly depend for their livelihood in both the states, economic dependence on sheep and pig is more in Chhattisgarh than Madhya Pradesh. Some policy suggestions have been given based on the findings of the study on leveraging the opportunities offered by livestock sector. HIGHLIGHTS In the context of increasing population pressure and associated shrinking landholding size, diversification of agricultural activities becomes crucial. The role of livestock, on account of more equitable distribution in favour of resource poor farmers, is important for sustainable livelihood security of farmers. For formulating appropriate policies for development of livestock sector, it is necessary to carry out disaggregated analyses to assess the district-level trends and dynamics of livestock population.