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In a landmark initiative to promote livestock entrepreneurship and rural economic development, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAHD) partnered with the Panchayati Raj Ministry to organize a large-scale virtual awareness program. The event took place on July 23, 2025, and was chaired by Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj.
The program aimed at livestock farmers across Northern and North-Eastern India, including Bihar. Conducted through Common Service Centres (CSCs), the event reached over 2 lakh livestock farmers via more than 4,000 CSCs in 16 States and Union Territories. Notable states included Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and Ladakh.
### Minister’s Address: Enabling Livestock-Driven Rural Growth
Prof. Baghel emphasized the transformative potential of livestock entrepreneurship in uplifting rural livelihoods during his address to the virtual gathering. He encouraged farmers to leverage government welfare and infrastructure schemes, including:
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– Artificial Insemination and Genomic Selection for scientific breed improvement.
– Biosecurity protocols to ensure herd health.
– The Animal Husbandry Kisan Credit Card (AHD KCC) for financial support.
– Participation in vaccination programs, especially against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
Prof. Baghel noted that India’s global dominance in dairy production with 25% of world milk output indicates that livestock farming is more than a means of subsistence; it is a path to sustainable and scalable rural income. He commended the success of the FMD-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, which has administered over 100 crore vaccine doses, significantly reducing disease burden and enhancing productivity.
### High-Level Officials Reinforce Last-Mile Outreach
Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), emphasized the department’s commitment to delivering veterinary and breeding services through CSCs, especially in underserved regions like North-Eastern and hilly areas. She called on local farmers to exploit their geography for specialized livestock and dairy production, including indigenous breeds.
Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, DAHD, highlighted the need for science-led productivity enhancement. She advocated for:
– Sex-Sorted Semen technology to control progeny sex ratio.
– In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) for superior breed propagation.
– Scaling up tech-driven extension services through digital channels and mobile platforms.
The two senior officers interacted with CSC operators and farmers, sharing success stories and offering clarity on available schemes. They encouraged a feedback loop for continuous improvement of government programs.
### Digital Platforms as Enablers of Inclusive Policy Implementation
The virtual awareness program included expert-led training modules, informational videos, and interactive Q&A sessions to demystify government schemes and explain modern livestock management practices. Topics covered included nutritional planning, disease surveillance, financial support systems, and insurance schemes.
This event exemplified how digital infrastructure can deliver targeted interventions in real time. CSCs acted as both technical intermediaries and knowledge hubs, reinforcing the government’s resolve to ensure equality of access for remote and underserved populations.
### Livestock Sector’s Role in Viksit Bharat Vision
With a focus on self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and the goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, the livestock sector has become a pillar of rural development and nutritional security. Government initiatives like the National Livestock Mission (NLM), Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), and Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) have laid the foundation for:
– Job creation in rural areas.
– Doubling farmers’ income.
– Diversification from crop to mixed farming systems.
– Boosting exports of dairy and animal products.
The program reiterated that realizing India’s Viksit Bharat aspiration depends not just on macroeconomic policies, but on the empowerment of the smallest economic unit—the rural livestock farmer.
### Bridging the Knowledge Gap for Livestock Transformation
As the virtual initiative concluded, it was clear that integrating technology, policy, and grassroots engagement has begun to redefine India’s livestock narrative. With enthusiastic participation from over two lakh farmers and strong government backing, India is charting a clear course towards inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-led rural growth.
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Which ministry partnered with the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying to organize a virtual awareness program for livestock farmers?
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