Editorial Board

ISSUES AND POLICIES VITAL FOR HIGHER GROWTH RATE IN ANIMAL SECTOR

June 6, 2019

129

By-DR RAMA KUMAR V, EX SECRETARY VCI

The draft approach paper to the 10^th Five Year Plan envisaged a reduction of poverty ratio to 20% by 2007 and 10% by 2012. The focus was on providing gainful employment or an opportunity for a decent living as assured in the constitution India [Article 39(a)]. As more than 60% of the people below the poverty line are associated with the livestock based vocation or avocation,, propagating and strengthening livestock sector is the only real time alternative to address issues of poverty alleviation, livelihood and rural transformation (not introducing urban comfort to rural areas or providing fre-bees and subsidies to the “have nots”. There is no observable and measurable method to sudy the implementation of these freebees. The understanding the environment for poverty reduction provides an economic case for pro–poor research investment in environmental assets”.(Dr.M.S.Swaminathan)

The Country’s current poverty data was reversed. The percentage of people below poverty line (BPL) appeared to have come down considerably (from 36% in 1993-4 to 26% in 1999-2000). But figures vary greatly from state to state with J&K as the state with minimum people BPL (3.8%) and Orissa the maximum (47.15%). [J&K=3.48%; Goa=4.40%; Punjab=6.16%; Himachal=7.63%; Delhi=8.23%; Assam=36.09%; Sikkim=36.55%; Bihar=42.60%; Orissa=47.15%] The data also depicts a large divide between the rural areas with 19.32 crore being categorized poor against 6.7 crore urban poor. Though there are many ways of estimating poverty, it is seen that these estimates are not much different materially. According to current official estimates per capita annual income levels for the country in urban area is Rs.454.11 and rural area, Rs.327.56.

It is heartening to note that the growth rates of 4-5% in milk, egg and meat have been achieved during the 10^th and 12^th Five Year Plans. These can be substantially increased to 6-8% through suitable investments in livestock sector.

The Unique features of animal husbandry in India

Land use: The requirement of grazing land for goat and sheep if organized large farm units would come to a total of 18.06 Million Hectares (grassland needed for 36.76 Million sheep would be 4.59 Million Hectares (MH) and for 107.83 Million goats would be 13.47 MH). The permanent pasture available in the country has shrunken from <14 Million Hectares (MH) to 11.3. elsewhere available pasture is in Brazil 18.6 MH and 81.3 MH South Africa. United Kingdom has 11 MH, U.S.A. 239 MH and China has 400 MH. Except in hilly regions, major share of the permanent pastures in India is being used for grazing cattle and buffaloes and not sheep or goat.

Cost of Production: If India were to resort to organized commercial animal production, the cost of production of wool, mutton or chevon would increase many fold. An estimated investment for production of 300 kg Mutton per day through (assumed) modern husbandry practices is Rs. 55 million in liquid cash. The interest on cash alone at current rate would be 55 X 8% = Rupees 4.4 Million If the commercial interest is to be charged @ 10-12% per cent per annum, the amount of interest would be 5.5 – 6.6 Million Indian rupees. Interest on investment of land is not calculated. An estimated 4800 hectares of grassland would be required.

Economic management: India’s small holder generates the cheapest produce in spite of the limited availability of primary resources like land, water and energy. Conventional method involves a traditional micro-management that needs huge human involvement. This system provides earning opportunity for subsistence, a low ebb human development and sustainability through micro-recycling. This system has stood the test of time. To that extend the conventional system of Animal Husbandry in India is more of a program that uses the landless and poor and landless than a measure for poverty alleviation.

The reason for the affordable cost of animal products in India is the low input – low output regimen where the millions of ‘have nots’ especially rural folks are involved in production to meet the needs of the ‘haves’ and the urban consumer. It can not and must not be compared to commercial animal production system of the west that is integrated with agriculture. A grain based or land based system in India may make animals to compete with man for food. This however, this does not mean that all is well and nothing needed. There is scope for improvement of production level through a better and pragmatic Animal husbandry and Veterinary service delivery. In India the climate is not yet congenial either for (commercial) mass production, or for paid veterinary service. However, the professional vety. service must be differentiated from arbitrary drug delivery without diagnosis of disease or assessing its impact.

The small holder may have to be supported with specific inputs that are critical to improved productivity, quality and sustainability. Experience of dairy sector showed that the small holder when provided an opportunity to sell produce at will, without being exploited, responded positively. The small holder has already optimized the use of feed and fodder, breeding and care within the constraints of her/ his immediate environment. The most important new technology that can be a force multiplier in small holder situation is inputs and information relevant to his environment. This is where R&D support needs higher focus.

It is a recognized fact that green revolution could take off as a result of a prolonged and consistent financial and R&D support by govt. But when the policy interventions were dominated by subsidies at in-put stage and support price for out put, it made the landed farming community complacent. They look forward to perpetual support.

put, it made the landed farming community complacent. They look forward to perpetual support.

The soil depletion of Punjab and/ or the stagnation of water in Haryana & Punjab are typical examples of paucity of scientific vision in grain croping. The scientists of ICAR must be asked to concentrate on a holistic approach in crop production, than waste time by trying to manage unrelated subjects.

VETERINARY AND AGRI. SCIENCE RESEARCH: As per “draft report of the committee on agriculture education” (1998) India trains on an average nearly 15,000 agriculturists per year. Of these, 61 agriculture colleges affiliated to 33 SAU’s admit 5260 undergraduate, 2650 masters and 900 Ph.D. students each year [some more agriculture/ horticulture universities were established after the report was released]. The agriculture personal are also trained by (approx.) 54 agricultural colleges affiliated to general universities of various states. SAU’s (State Agricultural Universities) also generate a number of graduate and post-graduate students in basic science, agriculture engineering, food science, forestry, home science, Agri. marketing/ banking etc. (nearly 2500 graduate, 2000 masters and 250 PhD admissions).

Two points are obvious (i) SAU’s are no more specialist universities but universities once established under land grant pattern (ii) more than half of the agri. students trained in India are from agriculture colleges out side ICAR’s SAU (State Agricultural Universities). Agriculture education can become pragmatic and strong if ICAR is relieved of the burden of unrelated profession. The growth of SAU’s was phenomenal. They were dynamic, modern and liberal with their funds for education and research. They are credited with a major role in green revolution of India. The staff strength of some various departments of the agricultural colleges in SAU’s are very large compared to that in traditional colleges. A large number of agriculture graduates produced through the growing number of agri. Colleges, are either under-employed or unemployed. In fact in SAU’s many agricultural graduates pursue post-graduate education up to Ph.D. not for educational pursuit, but for the small, but regular income that comes with in P.G. in the form of fellowship. The committee suggested vocational education in schools to include training in agriculture; By this a good number of trained agricultural graduates who do not hold any substantive job could well be adjusted.

Today many SAU’s established with generous central grants are unable to maintain their staff or infrastructure and at least some are unable to pay regular salaries to their teachers. Agricultural colleges outside ICAR system, in traditional universities offering graduate and post-graduate education in agriculture are also adding to the dimension of unemployment/ underemployment. ICAR has no control as agriculture, agri. research and education are state subjects as per the constitution of India.

Some states who are unable to meet the heavy expense of maintaining the farm universities are asking them to meet part of their expenses out of the returns from the thousands of acres of agricultural land initially allocated to them. States feel that, when a farmer can earn his subsistence out the small holdings, why not a farm university, where large holdings, machinery, expertise and technology are available can not be self sufficient.

CONCLUSION: The status of veterinary colleges in SAU’s on the other hand is appalling. The current trend of SAU’s and the status of Veterinary research and education in them give a feeling that

Veterinary education and research had never been a priority of either ICAR or of most SAU’s. Whatever be the reason behind it, there had been a growing feeling expressed among scientists that Veterinary science in SAU’s are loosing its identity under ICAR. There is a parity of pay between medical professionals and Veterinarians on recommendation of 5^th pay commission. But veterinary teachers in SAU’s are not getting the same pay scale as teachers of medical colleges. Due to this there is a no taker for the teaching positions in many Vety. colleges. Hardly 50% of the teaching posts get filled and professionals are disinclined to take up research or teaching as a career because of poor incentives. It is alleged that in some veterinary colleges there was no new appointment for years.