Collaborative Efforts Emphasized to Boost Animal Productivity and Address Livestock Challenges

Ms. Alka Upadhyaya underscored the importance of a holistic and integrated approach to enhance animal productivity, ensure consistent fodder availability, and expand vaccine coverage.

A high-level meeting co-chaired by Ms. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), and Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), was held at the National Agricultural Science Centre (NASC) Complex. The session was attended by senior officers from both DAHD and ICAR.

Ms. Alka Upadhyaya underscored the importance of a holistic and integrated approach to enhance animal productivity, ensure consistent fodder availability, and expand vaccine coverage. She emphasized the critical need for collaboration between DAHD and ICAR to address these challenges and reduce the impact of diseases on the livestock sector. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of mitigating methane emissions from livestock enteric fermentation as part of broader decarbonization efforts.

Dr. Himanshu Pathak highlighted the necessity of strong cooperation between DAHD and ICAR, noting that this meeting represents a significant step towards a more coordinated and comprehensive strategy for tackling key issues in the animal husbandry and dairying sector.

The meeting concentrated on several critical areas:

Enhancing Livestock Genetics: Initiatives to boost the genetic potential of livestock to improve productivity and resilience.

Fodder Supply Strategies: Ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality fodder to support livestock health and productivity.

Vaccine Development: Creating effective vaccines, including next-generation solutions for emerging diseases, to reduce disease impact on livestock.

Economic Impact Research: Studying the economic effects of diseases and other sector challenges to guide policy and intervention strategies.

AMR Surveillance: Strengthening surveillance systems to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).T

he meeting concluded with a commitment to deepen the collaboration between DAHD and ICAR, aiming to advance India’s livestock sector through innovative research, effective policies, and comprehensive action plans.