The Indian government is set to expand its National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM) programme to all states in the country in April. The initiative, which aims to create digitized databases on livestock, is currently being implemented as a pilot project in some districts in the state of Uttarakhand.
According to the Central Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department Secretary, RK Singh, under the programme, all animals in the country will be given a unique identification number through chipping. This number will serve as the foundation for all livestock programmes and enable farmers to maintain and share their digitally signed animal records.
Singh noted that the programme is already being used in Uttarakhand to provide e-prescriptions from veterinary surgeons, test results from labs, and an integrated call center application. The department has developed a blueprint for NDLM, which includes an ongoing effort to tag all 50 crore major livestock species (cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and pigs) in the country with a unique ID number.
The purpose of this identification system is to enable farmers to access government services in a seamless manner, trade their animals, and interact with the market for various inputs or to sell their products. The blueprint also aims to support the development of the livestock sector and enhance the livelihoods of livestock farmers in the country.
Speaking at a seminar held as part of the dairy farmers' meet 'Padavu' at the College of Veterinary Animal Sciences, Singh said that after evaluating the project's results in Uttarakhand, the programme will be implemented in all states in April.
Animal Husbandry Minister, J Chinchurani, who spoke at the concluding session of the seminar, said that the state government is planning to launch a single-window clearance system to support entrepreneurs planning to set up animal and poultry farms. The system will enable entrepreneurs to apply online for licenses for new farms, and agencies such as the pollution control board and LSG bodies will vet their application and provide a response to the applicant within a stipulated time.
Dr A Kowsigan, the animal husbandry department director, noted that there will also be a deemed license system, allowing applicants to assume that their application has been granted if they do not receive a response within a stipulated time.
The NDLM programme and the single-window clearance system are expected to bring significant benefits to the livestock sector in India. The unique identification number for animals will enable farmers to maintain better records and access government services more easily. The single-window clearance system will reduce bureaucracy and streamline the process for entrepreneurs setting up animal and poultry farms.
