The Livestock Scenario in Assam

Author- Dr. Nurul Islam

Published in The Assam Tribune, dated January 06, 2024.

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Livestock sector, a key asset for sustainable rural livelihood and food security, is growing at an unprecedented rate. Urbanization of a growing population and the changing food habits of people have enhanced the demands for livestock products. Animal source foods (ASFs) like milk, meat, and egg are rich in energy and also provide good sources of protein, minerals and vitamins. According to a study conducted by Rosegrant and his co-authors (2009) and published in the journal Annual Review of Environment and Resources, livestock products provide 17 per cent of global kilocalorie and 33 per cent of protein consumption globally, but there are large difference between rich and poor countries. The extent at which ASF contributes considerably to household food security is also having implications on household productivity, income levels and provides a significant contribution to the national economy.

In a recent study conducted jointly by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Kenya, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Rome and the Agriculture Production System Netherlands, it was projected that total demand for ASF may double by 2050, mostly in the developing world due to increase in population density, urbanization and incomes.

As such, due to the global demand for ASF, livestock products will continue to increase significantly in the coming decades. Lately, livestock production and food manufacturing industries are going through a phase of structural rationalization where safety of livestock products with strict adherence to sanitary and phyto-sanitary practices has now become a major challenge. The expansion of trade and business of livestock and its products has progressed tremendously and therefore, issues of food safety have also become a matter of grave concern, thus emphasizing a link between livestock development, nutrition, food security and food safety as a whole.

In Assam, the livestock sector is potentially one of the most important sectors for rapid socio-economic development and needs to be exploited to grow and expand to satisfy human demands. Agro-climatic conditions of Assam favour growth of livestock enterprise for increasing production and its productivity in commercial venture. The main vision of the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department is sustainable growth and to increase production and productivity from livestock and poultry resources in terms of ASF for enhancing the standard of living of the people of the State and ensuring nutritional security and economic prosperity. Already, the Govt. of Assam has constituted the Assam Agriculture Commission to focus on issues related to agriculture, animal husbandry and allied sectors and suggest measures for achieving self-sufficiency in these sectors in the matters of production.

The livestock sector contributes more than 4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and above 30 per cent of the total agriculture GDP of our country. Contribution of the livestock sector to Gross State Domestic Products (GSDPs) of 2021-22 stood at Rs. 4,904.26 crore at constant price (new base 2011-12) and Rs. 9,961.19 crore at current price. The growth rate of this sector to GSDP is 8.87 per cent at constant price of 2011-12 and 9.44 per cent at the current price over the previous year. Further, the growth rate of this sector to NSDP is 5.82 per cent at the constant price of 2011-12 and 13.8 per cent at the current price over the previous year. The annual growth rate of milk, meat and eggs was around 3 per cent over the last year. It has been observed, however, that per capita availability of the livestock products is much below the national average and the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA). Per capita availability of milk in the State is 77 gm/day which is about 3.8 times less than the RDA i.e. 300 gm/day and 6 times less that of the average national production of 444 gm/capita/day. In case of egg, per capita availability us 19 eggs per year which is 10 times less than the RDA of our country and 5 times less than the national average i.e. 90 eggs/capita/year. Similarly, in case of meat the availability is about 5.4 gm meat/capita/day against the RDA of 52-60gm. Egg production needs to be increased by 5 times to meet the national average and 9.50 times to meet the RDA. Likewise, meat production also needs to be enhanced by 5.5 times. It is evident that there is a wide gap between the production level of livestock products in the State with respect to the demand to provide to consumers. This calls for urgent augmentation of the level of livestock production and its productivity.

Considering the above picture, ASF production would have to be increased. A huge amount from the State exchequer is spent on import of ASF from outside the State. The only way out is to increase the production level of ASF with the available resources and extensive delivery of veterinary services which is expected to give a boost to livelihood sustainability of the farming communities as well as ensure food security in the State. Considering the prevailing agro-ecological conditions of the State, an integrated development programme combining sector-specific farming system approach (FSA) and requisite inputs with appropriate effective institutional frameworks need to be explored for enhancing productivity, profitability and sustainability of existing farming systems of livestock enterprise. The concept of farming system approach which is being practiced for cost-effective livestock production in other regions of the country may also be translated and applied for maximizing cost -benefit production and commercialization of the livestock sector in the State. While implementing this, a roadmap with workable mechanisms may be designed making necessary coordination and convergence of the ongoing programmes of the other departments and agencies which may encourage the growth of different components of livestock enterprise. High cost of input supplies like feeds including operational cost, inadequate market infrastructure, hassle-free credit facilities, etc. seem to be unsupportable burdens to the farmers as well as entrepreneurs, not to speak of remunerative prices for livestock products which have taken a back seat in this region.

Delivery of veterinary services in unreachable and priority areas with enhanced professional manpower according to norms set by the National Commission on Agriculture, 1976, creation of more infrastructure and support services and more budgetary allocations are the important thrust areas to be reviewed and addressed accordingly for commercialization of livestock enterprise and encouraging export potential of livestock products in the State.

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