According to the 20th Livestock Census, India has the world’s highest livestock population. Livestock sector provides livelihood to around two-third of rural community and about 8.8% of the population in India. The sector contributes to 4.11% of GDP and 25.6% of total agriculture GDP.
Impediments faced by livestock sector in India:

• Low productivity: The productivity of indigenous breeds is extremely low as compared to the foreign varieties, making them a burden on farmers rather than assets.
• High incidence of diseases: With improvement in the quality of livestock through cross- breeding programs, their susceptibility to various diseases including exotic diseases such as haemorrhagic septicaemia, swine fever, etc. has increased, leading to economic losses to the farmer.
• Inadequate infrastructure:
  • The number of veterinary institutions is not up to the required standards.
  • Shortage of vaccines and cold storage facilities.
  • Inadequate attention towards extension services.
  • Lack of institutional credit.
  • Livestock market remains largely informal.

• Shortage of feed and fodder: Hardly 5% of the cropped area in India is utilized to grow fodder and area under permanent pastures/grasslands (3.3%) is continuously decreasing.
• Lack of inclusivity: Unconventional sources of milk such as camel, yak, etc., still fail to be included comprehensively within policies and programmes.
• Globalisation: Unfavourable food safety and quality norms for India hinders potential export growth in the Indian livestock sector.

Thus, following measures can be taken to remove the impediments to the sector:

• Strengthening of linkages between production and markets through institutions such as co- operatives, producers’ associations, and contract farming.
• Promoting livestock farm automation systems to save time, reduce labour requirements, and improve product quality, increase production, efficiency, accuracy, and safety.
• Explore the possibility of availing more funds under other Schemes such as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) including dovetailing with MPLAD funds etc. so as to cater adequate veterinary health services in States / UT.
• Establishing a network of Mobile Veterinary Clinic (MVC) to provide doorstep delivery of veterinary services specifically for remote / border and inaccessible areas.
• Increase the present number of Veterinary Colleges/Universities in order to reduce the shortage of trained manpower in veterinary services.
• Investments made by private companies, cooperative societies etc. can be used in augmenting veterinary infrastructure. Example, Mobile Dispensaries in Gujarat.
• One-Stop Centre for solutions to livestock issues and dissemination of information to the remotest areas of the country can ensure eradication of Infectious diseases.

Livestock provides not only a hedge against improper agriculture but also provides an opportunity to earn an additional income. Therefore, taking the above measures will help boost the potential of the sector and realise the goal of doubling the farmers’ income.