Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, organised “Virtual Awareness Program for Enhancing Livestock Productivity” on August 20, 2025. The event saw participation from over one lakh livestock farmers through 2,000 Common Service Centers (CSCs) across states and union territories including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Delhi and Chandigarh.
Union Minister Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, chaired the session from New Delhi. He lauded the vital contribution of livestock farmers to the national economy and highlighted India’s impressive growth in milk production, which has increased at an annual rate of 5.7% over the past decade, well above the global average of 2%. He credited initiatives such as vaccination programs and the use of Sex-Sorted Semen (SSS) technology for driving improvements in productivity.
Prof. Baghel also interacted with farmers, enquiring about the availability of veterinary services and encouraging them to use the toll-free number 1962 for treatment-related assistance. He stressed the importance of timely animal vaccination and urged farmers to adopt livestock insurance to protect their livelihoods.
The program featured awareness videos and expert-led sessions on breed improvement, zoonotic disease control, biosecurity measures, and entrepreneurship opportunities through various government schemes. It aimed to empower farmers with updated knowledge and practical insights to enhance productivity and income generation.
Senior officials, including Additional Secretaries Varsha Joshi and Rama Shankar Sinha, along with other department representatives, also attended the event.
