Over two lakh livestock farmers from across Northern and North-Eastern India participated in a Virtual Awareness Program chaired by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, on July 23, 2025. Conducted through more than 4,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs), the program connected farmers from 16 states and Union Territories, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, and all eight North-Eastern states.
The Program aimed to educate and empower livestock farmers by connecting them directly with government experts and schemes.
Addressing the participants, Prof. Baghel highlighted the importance of adopting modern livestock practices such as artificial insemination, genomic selection, and biosecurity measures. He urged farmers to take full advantage of the AHD Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and other government schemes designed to enhance rural livelihoods.
Noting that India contributes nearly 25% of the world’s total milk production, the Minister emphasized the sector’s vast potential for generating sustainable rural income. He also stressed the need to bring livestock cooperatives into the organized sector to improve operational efficiency and long-term viability.
Prof. Baghel further underlined the importance of breed improvement and robust disease control. He mentioned that over 100 crore doses have already been administered under the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)-Mukt Bharat initiative, which aims to eradicate the disease from India’s livestock population.
Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), reaffirmed the department’s commitment to last-mile delivery, particularly in the hilly and remote regions of the North-East. She encouraged local communities to leverage their natural resources for livestock and dairy development.
Additional Secretary Varsha Joshi advocated for the adoption of advanced breeding technologies such as Sex-Sorted Semen and IVF to improve productivity and income.
The event included expert-led sessions and informative videos, offering practical knowledge to farmers while promoting greater awareness of relevant policies and initiatives.
This digital outreach is part of DAHD’s continued efforts to boost livestock entrepreneurship and support rural development across the country.
