Assessment of Research Priorities for Livestock Sector in India

In its continuing efforts to provide inputs to research planning, NCAP has taken up livestock sector for a detailed analysis. Livestock sector is a sunrise sector of Indian economy, and is expected to emerge as an engine of growth of the agricultural sector in the decades to come. Growing human population, sustained economic growth, changing lifestyles of the upwardly mobile middle class, and increasing urban population are driving rapid growth in demand for food of animal origin. However at the same time, productivity growth of livestock remains constricted owing to a number of factors, such as huge livestock population, inadequate feed and fodder supply, and poor adoption of technologies. Thus, it is increasingly felt that future growth has to be demand- and technology-driven. The importance of livestock sector goes beyond its food production function. It supplies draught power, organic manure and domestic fuel. Livestock is the lifeline of millions of landless, marginal and small landholders who own a sizeable proportion of livestock wealth. Since resources available are becoming scarcer to meet the challenges, it is critical to objectively evaluate livestock research priorities. This study provides an objective assessment of macro level research priorities for the livestock sector, in terms of regions, species and commodities. It covers all states and union territories, eight livestock species and their products and services. The study also gives a comprehensive picture of growth and contribution of livestock sector in the Indian economy and also the evolution of livestock research in India. The main findings of the study have been vetted by peers and also in meetings with experts, policymakers and officials of the Government. It is hoped that the study will guide research resource allocation in the livestock sector for its accelerated growth.