Agriculture is one of the most under rated professions in the world, despite the fact that it is the major driver of a nation’s economy and provides food security to its people while contributing majorly to the Nation’s economic upliftment. A form of agriculture that contributes significantly to the agricultural value of a region is animal husbandry. It deals with the day-to-day care, selective breeding. The raising of livestock for meat, fibre, milk, eggs, or other products. Let us see some fast facts that make Animal husbandry crucial to the human race.
A constant source of protein to the humanity, thirty four percentage of the global food protein supply comes from the livestock.
It also helps to raise the agricultural GDP of the region. According to the FAO report 2018, the livestock sector contributes to nearly 40% of total agricultural output in developed countries and 20% in developing ones.
A thriving livestock sector helps agriculture by raising soil fertility; conserving biodiversity; managing natural fires and accelerating nutrient cycling through inter related food chains.
Animal husbandry contributes to humanity by generating employment opportunities. It involves a higher percentage of rural population around the globe in Animal husbandry for their daily wages and food.
When it comes to commanding world leadership in agriculture, China wins the game hands down.
It appears to be the best country for agriculture for the time being. A good part of the country is mountainous and is unfit for agriculture. It only leaves us only wondering how a country with relatively less cultivable land than India or USA is able to attain such an enormous agricultural output. Here are some vital factors that are going to keep China on top of the game for quite some time.
Maximum utilization of the available arable land.
Yes you heard it right! The Chinese make most out of what is available. With Intensive cropping cycles, China is able to feed 22 percentage of the World population. Note that it has only seven percentage of world’s cultivable land and the basic farm size in China is very much lesser than that of a US farm.
Higher percentage of population involved in agriculture. Most of the farm work is handled by the labour unlike in the US where the farms are highly mechanised.
The Chinese invest significantly in agricultural research and development. Better fertilizers, improved seed quality, Better water management has enabled them to attain such superior yields.
Thanks to the Government of republic of China which has always placed top priority on the development of agriculture, the nation has carved for itself a niche in the sector.
However,
The present COVID 19 crises may have some detrimental effects on the economy of the Country. But that is something we have to wait and watch. For now the skies are clear and it looks like China will be World leader in agriculture for a long time to come.
Though India is second only to China in its World agricultural contribution, the difference in the values is much wider. The one sector where India can surpass China is animal husbandry. A land where the animals are worshipped and are very much part of the culture and life of people – India is the proud owner of the World’s largest population of Buffaloes and world’s largest supplier of milk. Let’s have a quick glance at some impressive numbers that makes the subcontinent the best place for Animal Husbandry.
As of 2019, the country is the home to 192.49 million cattle with an annual increase rate of 0.8% and the contribution of the livestock to the Nation’s Agricultural GDP has been increasing steadily.
The country is third largest producer of eggs and has second largest population of goats and sheep. The Nation also has the second largest poultry market in the world. It also considers pig farming as most profitable businesses in the subcontinent.
India is also a fisheries giant
With a total catch of about 3 million metric tons per year India is the second largest aquaculture nation in the world. It involves 7 crore rural households in Animal Husbandry.
The Modi Government now has created a separate ministry for Fisheries Animal Husbandry and Dairying. This landmark move is very appropriate since this could help the country to focus on the challenges and ensure a continuous growth rate. The present liberalised policies of the government and the expansion of the global food market have boosted the country’s exports of livestock products and have certainly raised the country’s livestock earnings.
These resources
Do make India the best country for Animal Husbandry. However, there also few issues that need to be addressed. Lack of information regarding livestock technology among the rural population, considerable reduction of grasslands, various diseases that often plague the animals, inability to increase animal productivity, lack of credit facilities are some of them. Research and Development initiatives can certainly help the country to combat these challenges. With the new ministry in force, drastic changes in the livestock policies can also help to combat these problems.
In this scenario, entry of more educated youth into Animal Husbandry has added a fresh wave of hope. Recently the nation has been witnessing several success stories of educated men and women choosing animal husbandry for a profession. This growing trend is revolutionary and will certainly open many doors for India. With this sector controlling 25 percentage of the country’s agricultural output, a steady growth can be a winning card for India. If things work out well, India will be able to surpass. China as world leader in Agriculture.
