Answer:

It was the organised use of cattle (livestock) that made the Operation Flood a huge success and converted India from a net importer of dairy products to a net exporter and positioned India on top of the list of milk production. Livestock being the internal component of the rural Indian society has huge potential of acting as a growth engine for agriculture and rural economy.

Mechanization in Agriculture has been to the tune of 20% only, whereas 80% of the agriculture/farm operations are done by bullock drawn implements. Livestock (Bulls) provides draught power and manure to the crop enterprise and this in turn provides feed and fodder.

Fortunately, India is blessed with a tremendous livestock wealth. It has the largest population of cattle and buffalo in the world and its breeds are admired for heat tolerance and inherent resistance to diseases and ability to thrive under different climatic condition. This sector has huge employment potential both for farmers and landless labourers. The rural population can directly form collaboration with big investors or through cooperative society and can leverage the benefit from this sector.

But there are many challenges which are as follows:

♤ Lack of direct market which hampers the commercialisation of livestock sector.

♤ Lack of policies, financial and institutional support.

♤ Stringent food safety and quality norms.

♤ Frequent outbreaks of diseases continue to affect livestock health and productivity.

♤ Deteriorating common grazing land which is a major source of food to livestock.

♤ Large influx of foreign breed has the potential to negatively affect the indigenous breed.

Steps taken by government to leverage the potential of this sector are:

♤ National Livestock Mission (NLM) launched in FY 2014-15 to ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders.

♤ Livestock insurance scheme aims to provide protection mechanism to farmers and cattle rearers against any eventual loss of their animals and to bring qualitative improvement in livestock and their products.

♤ National Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding (NPCBB) aims for genetic up- gradation of cattle and buffaloes by artificial insemination as well as acquisition of proven indigenous animals.

♤ Strengthening of Database and Information Networking of livestock to target the schemes effectively.

♤ Ensuring the modernisation of this sector to attract foreign investor.

♤ There are many disease control programs of government to ensure healthy and productive livestock.

.