Livestock Economy – North East India: Challenges & Opportunities

The livestock sector in North East India plays a vital role in the regional economy, with cattle, goats, and pigs being key components. However, several challenges and growth trends need to be addressed.

Between 2012 and 2019, the region experienced a slow and negative growth rate in milch livestock, impacting milk production. Conversely, pig and poultry farming saw a robust growth rate, reflecting a preference among farmers for low capital-intensive, quick-maturity livestock.

Key livestock products such as milk, meat, and eggs exhibit slower growth in the North East compared to the national average, leading to substantial shortages. Livestock contributes about 16% to the income of small farm households, yet this is below the overall performance across India.

The region has a significant gap between the requirement and availability of feeds and fodders. Only Assam has a dedicated fodder crop area of 3 thousand hectares, and the region’s permanent pastures and grazing lands cover 199 thousand hectares. This results in a very low livestock serving per hectare ratio, just 0.008, compared to India’s total of 9249 thousand hectares.

Shunya’s hydroponic green fodder and its year round easy availability will prove to be an important step for the region.

There is significant potential for improving livestock infrastructure in the Northeast. Enhanced veterinary facilities, better feed availability, and a focus on dairy farming could revolutionize the sector. A concerted effort to bridge the feed and fodder gap, coupled with improved breeding and veterinary practices, can lead to substantial growth.

For more detailed insights, refer to the original article on Livestock Science.