Monsoon Meet to Strengthen Animal Husbandry Programs

New Delhi- The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh (alias Lalan Singh), will chair the Monsoon Meet for the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Sector on 13th September 2024 at the Convention Center, Lok Seva Bhavan, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi will attend as the Chief Guest, with Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida serving as the Special Guest. Other prominent attendees include Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, and Minister of State Shri George Kurian, along with senior officers from the Department.

The Monsoon Meet, organized by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, will focus on aligning the expectations of States and Union Territories to foster an effective program implementation framework at the ground level. The event aims to review scheme progress, discuss outcomes, and consider mid-course corrections. Animal Husbandry Ministers from various States and UTs, along with concerned officials, will participate.

From 2014-15 to 2022-23, the livestock sector has grown at an impressive compound annual growth rate of 9.82%, contributing significantly to the Gross Value Added (GVA) in agriculture, increasing from 24.36% to 30.22%. In 2022-23, the sector accounted for 5.5% of the total GVA, underscoring its crucial economic role.

India’s milk production has surged by 57.62% over the past nine years, rising from 146.3 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 230.60 million metric tonnes in 2022-23, with an annual growth rate of 5.9%, surpassing the global average of 2%. The per capita milk availability also increased from 307 grams per day in 2013-14 to 459 grams per day in 2022-23, well above the global average of 325 grams. These achievements position the livestock sector as a "sunrise sector."

The Monsoon Meet will address implementation challenges, promote the exchange of ideas, and showcase best practices from various states. Several key announcements, as part of the Department's "100 Days Action Plan," are expected during the meet.