Role of animal husbandry in economic revival

Introduction

• The farm laws have fixed the spotlight on infrastructure investments necessary to boost productivity levels and fill critical gaps in production.
• If such investments are undertaken in a timely manner, pressure will be reduced across the farm sector with immense knock-on benefits for the entire economy.

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund in economic revival

• Employability: As an allied industry of agriculture, the animal husbandry and dairy sector collectively employ more than 100 million people.
• AHIDF: The AHIDF has been set up with an outlay of 15,000 crores.
  • As per the provisions of AHIDF, a project will be eligible for a loan amount that covers up to 90% of the estimated cost – with an interest subvention of 3% for all eligible entities.
  • Applicants can submit the proposal with a complete Detailed Project Report through the Udyami Mitra Portal.
  • This is the first major fund launched by the government that includes a diverse set of stakeholders such as FPOs, private dairy players, individual entrepreneurs, and non-profits within its ambit.
• Infrastructure gap can be bridged: There is a pressing need to enhance chilling infrastructure at collection centres by setting up bulk milk coolers to prevent the wastage of milk.
  • Currently, there is an infrastructure gap of about 120-130 MMT, which translates into an investment potential of approximately 20,000 crores, but the potential investment opportunity is to the tune of 1,40,000 crore across the dairy value chain.
• Qualitative animal feed: There is also considerable potential to increase the productivity of cattle, especially by enhancing the quality of animal feed. With this in mind, the AHIDF has been designed to support the establishment of animal feed plants of varying capacities.
  • including setting up of mineral mixture plants, silage-making units, and animal feed testing laboratory.
• Role of Start-ups: To spur on innovative solutions, the Ministry in collaboration with Invest India has invited ideas from domestic start-ups for the development of new varieties of green fodder and enriched animal feed.

Nutritional benefits

• In a similar vein, there are not only economic but nutritional benefits to boosting the poultry segment’s output, efficiency and quality.
  • India is the fourth largest chicken meat producer and the second largest egg producer in the world and is well-positioned to help mitigate rampant malnutrition given that chicken meat provides the cheapest source of protein per unit.
  • With eggs being introduced as part of the mid-day meal within several anganwadis in the country, an upgradation in poultry infrastructure would be closely intertwined with social justice outcomes too.

Conclusion

• The macro benefits regarding climate change and employment are linked to this sector.
• Enhanced infrastructure can make processing units more energy-efficient and help mitigate their carbon footprint.
• The AHIDF also has the potential to create over 30 lakh jobs, even as it overhauls domestic infrastructure towards giving greater prominence to India’s dairy and livestock products in the global value chain.