ANIMAL, HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING, FISHING AND FORESTS
I
ANIMAL HUSBANDARY THE Third Plan and the subsequent Annual Plans attached considerable importance to animal husbandry. A new cattle breeding policy was evolved during this period. According to this policy, cross breeding would be undertaken in areas covered by Intensive Cattle Development (ICD) Projects and in key village blocks that lie in the milk sheds of existing and proposed dairies. Pure breeding would be confined to outstanding indigenous breeds in well-defined breeding tracts with a view to improving the quality of milch cattle. Simultaneous upgrading of indigenous cattle would be undertaken with recognised Indian breeds. Greater efforts would be made for the improvement of the productivity of buffaloes.
8.2 The introduction of ICD Projects during the period 1961-69 represents a significant development. The programmes include improved methods of breeding, provision of feed and fodder and disease control. Earlier, the cattle development programmes taken up in small and scattered areas, could not make much impact on account of insufficient inputs lack of tie-up with proper marketing and inadequate coverage of cattle population. The ICD Project was conceived to rectify these shortcomings.
8.3 The Third Plan witnessed a notable break through in poultry farming. The average egg production increased from 60 in 1960-61 to 80 in 1965-66. A large number of commercial poultry farms with 500 to 25,000 layers were set up in private sector in different parts of the country. Large private hatcheries were established as also poultry feed manufacturing units. As a result of these measures, egg production increased from about 2880 million in 1961 to 5300 million in 1968-69. However the programme of poultry development continued to be adversely affected by shortage and high prices of poultry feed. Another factor blocking the progress of poultry development was inadequate arrangements for marketing.
8.4. Compared to eggs and poultry progress in other livestock products fell short of expectation. Wool production increased from 32.55 million kgs. in 1961 to 37.60 million kgs. (estimated) in 1969. The production of milk increased from 20 million tonnes in 1966-67 to 21.2 million tonnes in 1968-69, representing a growth rate of about 3 per cent per annual. This was much below the rate of growth in demand for milk.
Objectives and Targets 8.5. The approach to livestock development in the Fourth Plan is based on three major considerations. First, it is estimated that only about 12 per, cent of the agricultural component of the Gross Domestic Product is accounted for by livestock production in India. The second consideration is nutritional. The following table indicates the present estimated availability of milk, meat, fish and eggs as against the level required by accepted nutritional standards :
TABLE 1 : Availability and Requirements of Animals Proteins
(in gms.)
sl. no. item level estimated
according availability
to
nutritional
standards
(0) (1) (2) (3)
1 milk 284 105.02
2 meat 28.4
3 fish 56.8 } 11.36
4 eggs 28.4
Compared with cereals, the demand for livestock products is more income elastic and it is likely to grow at a rate between 5.5 to 6.4 per cent per annum. The third major consideration relates to the fact that animal husbandry offers considerable scope for the diversification of the economy of the small farmer and the landless labourer.
8.6. In the light of these considerations, the Fourth Plan aims at increasing the supply of protective foods like milk, milk products, meat and eggs and at improving the output of certain animal products of commercial importance, such as wool, hides, skins, hair, bristles and bones. It is also one of 'the principal endeavours of the Plan to help ensure that animal husbandry programmes strengthen the economy of sub-marginal farmers and agricultural labour.
8.7. In framing the targets of livestock development, consideration has been given to the constraints that are still operating in this sector. The first major
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constraint concerns absence of a significant research break-through comparable to that in cereal crops. The second constraint concerns feed and fodder, while the third arises from the fact that a large percentage of the bovine population has to provide draught power for agriculture, thus leaving relatively limited. scope for a milk- oriented cattle breeding policy. There is also lack of sufficient integration between crop husbandry and livestock production with the result that these programmes do not adequately reinforce each other. Again, there is the limitation arising from an intense competition for land and water resources. An extremely small area is devoted to fodder cultivation and pasturage. Certain animals particularly sheep, are reared by nomadic groups moving up and down the mountain ranges in the Himalayas or from arid to semi-arid tracts in the plains. In these circumstances, a continuous and consistent programme of extension and improvement of quality of animals becomes doubly difficult. In the light of these constraints, the following production targets of selected animal products have been fixed :
TABLE 2 : Targets of Production of Animal Products
sl. item unit 1965-66 1968-69 1973-74
no. (estimated)
(0) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
1 milk mill. tonnes; 20 21.2 25.86
2 wool mill. kgs. 35.66 37.60 41.50
3 eggs mill. nos. 4100 5300 8000
8.8. In the animal husbandry sector, the outlays included in the Fourth Plan are:-
TABLE 3 : Outlay on Animal Husbandry
sl. outlay
no. (Rs. crores)
(0) (1) (2)
1 states 70.91
2 union territories 5.40
3 central sector 12.50
4 centrally sponsored
schemes 5.25
5 total 94.06
The public sector outlays are proposed to be supplemented from various institutional sources. The Agricultural Refinance Corporation (ARC) has already finance several poultry and dairy development schemes. It is expected that, in the coming years, the role of ARC in this sector would be enlarged. Another significant source of finance particularly for purchase of milch animals is cooperative credit. The All-India Rural Credit Review Committee has recommended that such credit should also be available to persons who carry on animal husbandry activities without undertaking crop husbandry. These measures are expected to increase the flow of cooperative credit and, in particular make it accessible to small farmers and landless labour for their poultry and dairy activities.
Cattle Breeding Policy 8.9 The main features of recent policy are :
(i) Selective breeding in the breeding tracts of established or recognised milch, dual-purpose, or some important draught breeds of cattle.
(ii) Laying more emphasis on milk production in the breeding tracts of draught breeds or type of cattle and replacing the other existing draught breeds or types with dual-purpose breeds.
(iii) Grading up with recognised dual purpose or diary breeds in areas where cattle do not conform to any specific type of breed and are usually non-descript and of low productivity.
(iv) Cross breeding with exotic breeds in hilly ares and other places where there are facilities for the rearing the maintaining of high-yielding milch cattle and in urban areas and around industrial townships to ensure adequate supply of milk.
(v) Improvement of buffaloes by selective breeding in breeding tracts and grading up with recognised breeds in other areas where buffaloes have established themselves.
8.10 The main emphasis of the new cattle breeding policy is on cross breeding. The rate of progress in this respect will however depend upon the degree of the farmers' acceptance of cross-bred humpless animals as working stock. While a measure of progress has already been achieved in cross breeding certain technical problems in regard to exotic inheritance are yet to be finally resolved so as to achieve a measure of stability in the desired characteristics. Recently a set of detailed guidelines have been suggested by the Government of India to the State Directorates of Animal Husbandry. These guidelines relate to the area of operation where cross-breeding could be attempted most profitably selection of one breed with a view to ensuring continuity and economic in breeding operations and precautions about the maintenance of crossbred stock. It has also been suggested that while introduction of 50 per cent of exotic blood has proved to be satisfactory, the introduction of 75 per cent of exotic blood has generally tended to reduce body weight, viability and milk yield. In regard to cross-breeding with Jersey bulls, it has
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ANIMAL HUSBANDARY, FISHERIES AND FORESTS
been considered advisable to fix the exotic inheritance at 5/8 level and inter-breed from stock having this exotic blood. The most crucial point on which the success of the cross-breeding programme depends is the quality of the cross-bred bulls used for breeding. it will be necessary to ensure that there is no uncontrolled cross-breeding and Chat action is taken within the frame-work of these guidelines.
Cattle Development Programmes 8.11. In addition to 31 ICD projects in existence, 15 large ICD projects will be set up in milk shed areas of dairy plants with a minimum capacity of 20,000 litres. There will be 20 medium type ICD projects in the milk shed areas of dairy plants with a capacity of 15,000 litres. The key village scheme now operates in 490 blocks. Sixty new key village blocks will cover small dairies.
8.12. The availability of proven bulls is a pre-condition for the improvement of breeds. A beginning has been made with two progeny testing units. In the Fourth Plan, a Centrally sponsored scheme will provide for progeny testing units at 10 State farms. For cattle development, schemes in the Third Plan and the Annual Plans included breeding farms, bull rearing farms, goshala, development, control of wild and stray cattle and organisation of mass castration. These programmes will continue. Three central cattle breeding farms and eight bull reating farms will be set up. Sire evaluation cells will be established in each State.
Buffalo Development 8.13. The demand for the buffalo as a dairy animal has increased in recent years on account of the high-yield and rich fat content of its milk. Of the eight well-defined breeds of buffalo, the Murrah breed, which is the most popular among the high-yielders, has adapted itself well all over the country. An important scheme, continued from the second Plan relates to the salvage of Murrah buffalo calves from milk colonies for distribution all over the country. In the Fourth Plan, an All-India Coordinated Research Project on buffaloes is envisaged. The objective is to improve the production potential of buffaloes through assessment of vital characters, selection for high economic value and development of breeds with the help of different systems of breeding-Research is in progress for overcoming the reproductive failures among buffalo cows during summer months. Some causes have already been identified. Further research work is contemplated; in the Fourth Plan.
Sheep and Goat Development 8.14. The clip of Indian Sheep is generally of coarse quality and the bulk is classified as carpet Wool and wool products such as carpets blankets and druggets earn valuable foreign exchange. Considerable quantities of the indigenous wools are being utilised in the woolen manufacturing industries. There is also demand for raw wool in the export market. To improve the quality of wool from indigenous sheep, the development programme envisages cross-breeding of local sheep with exotic fine wool varieties as well as upgrading with some of the important local breeds. To produce quantity stud rams of important indigenous breeds of sheep and exotic breeds, the programme envisages establishment of 8 large sheep breeding farms with a flock strength of 5000 or more sheep expansion and reorganisation of 15 State sheep breeding farms, establishment of 5 new sheep breeding farms and 50 sheep and wool extension centres besides the expansion of 80 centres established during the Third Plan. Import of fine wool breed sheep and of mutton types is envisaged to popularise improved method of sheep shearing wool grading and marketing on the basis of quality. The programme will be taken up in 8 States. It is proposed to organise farms for Pashmina, Angora and dairy goats.
Poultry Development 8.15 With the growth of poultry as a commercial enterprise during the last decade poultry farming has become lucrative. The Agricultural Refinance Corporation has already provided finance for five poultry projects. A favourable atmosphere has been created for the growth of ancillary industries such as organised poultry feed poultry equipment and sales organisations for eggs and dressed birds. Propagation of stock with high feed conversion efficiency is important for bringing down costs. It is proposed to take up a coordinated poultry breeding programme at three Central and ten State farms to evolve superior lines and to cross them in various combinations with a view to exploting hybrid vigour. One hundred intensive egg and poultry production-cum-marketing centres will augment supplies.
Piggery Development 8.16 Development of piggery is becoming increasingly important. Pig-breeders are being supplied improved pigs and technical know-how in piggery development blocks. In some areas, supply of balanced feed for pigs has also been taken up. With a view to improving the economic condition of those who have adopted pig-rearing as a traditional occupation it is propose to supply them breeding stock at subsidised rates. The becon factory at Harigmatta will be provided additional facilities. Work would be completed in remaining three becon factories and one pork processing plant. Four more port processing plants are proposed to be set up in different States. To ensure regular supply
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FOURTH FIVE YEAR PLAN
of improved pigs, 10 piggery farms would be exparded and 25 new piggery development blocks would be set up.
Feed and Fodder Development 8.17. Increase in the productivity of livestock has been hampered by the shortage of feed and fodder. Only about 4.5 per cent of the cultivated area is under fodder. This is not capable of supporting more than a small fraction of the livestock population. Stress will be laid on developing feed and fodder resources under the ICD projects and key village blocks. For meeting emergent requirements it is proposed to set up 5 fodder banks in suitable areas where the available grass production will be harvested and conserved. It is also proposed to popularise silage and hay making by organising demonstration on cultivators' holdings in the milk sheds of dairy projects. Seven regional forage demonstration stations will be set up. Foundation seeds will be multiplied at 20 seed farms.
Livestock Marketing 8.18. Marketing of livestock and livestock products has not developed to the same extent as that of other agricultural commodities. The marking activities have been confined to regulation of cattle markets and to some extent to the grading of live-sock products. Improvement in the conditions of marketing is an immediate need and regulation of markets Would be an important step in this context. It is proposed to establish a livestock marketing cell in the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection with the object of developing effective supervisory and advisory control over the grading schemes for livestock products. In addition to this, other schemes proposed are classification of raw hides, improvement in the collection, preparation and grading of materials used for manufacture of animal casings and management for grading of wool at producers' level.
8.19. With a view to creating conditions for hygienic production of meat, enabling proper antemortem and postmortem examination, utilising valuable by-products and adopting humane methods of slaughtering, a scheme for modernisation of slaughter houses was taken up during the Third Plan. It did not make much progress. It is proposed to set up corporate bodies to develop a few large, medium and small slaughter houses and meat markets. Bacon factories and poultry dressing plans will be set up for processing piggery products and dressed birds. To ensure fuller utilisation of fallen animal and slaughter house wastes for the production of stock feed, such as meat meal and bone meal, carcass utilisation centres will be established in most of the States.
Animal Health 8.20. Maximum production can be ensured only when animals are healthy and protected against diseases and parasites. It is proposed to set up 200 new hospitals, 1000 veterinery dispensaries and 2000 stockman centres, and to provide 60 mobile dispensaries. Five hundred existing dispensaries will be converted into hospitals and 60 clinical and investigation laboratories established. In addition to the continuance of the rinderpest eradication campaign in the southern States and follow-up programme in others, the immunisation programme against the disease will be intensified by establishing check-posts and creating an immune zone to a depth of about 20 kilometers at inter-state borders. It is proposed to augment the production of tissue culture vaccines against rinderpest and foot and mouth disease as cross bred animals are more susceptible to these diseases than indigenous breeds. To prevent ingress of exotic diseases, an animal quarantine and certification service will be set up.