The Livestock Sector in India is one of the critical sectors of the Indian economy, helping to boost agricultural growth and improve rural livelihoods. With 535.78 million livestock, India has the largest livestock population in the world (20th Livestock Census, 2019). India’s livestock population represents 11.6% of the global livestock.
The increase in income and urbanisation have led to an increase in the demand for animal protein, putting pressure on livestock to produce more. As a result, the livestock sector in India has grown faster than the crop sector over the last four decades.
However, per-animal productivity in India is lower than the global average. This is due to several factors, such as the dominance of indigenous low-yielding breeds, inadequate feed and fodder stock, and lack of entrepreneurship in the livestock sector. Besides, the majority of livestock farming is in the unorganised sector.
The Department of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy launched the National Livestock Mission in 2014 to address low productivity and promote entrepreneurship in the livestock sector.
The National Livestock Mission (NLM) was launched by the Department of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy in 2014-15. The NLM Scheme aims to generate employment through entrepreneurship development in the poultry, piggery, small ruminants, and fodder sectors. It also aims to increase per-animal productivity and raise the production of milk, meat, eggs, and wool.
The NLM Scheme has the following three submissions:
It aims to strengthen the fodder seed supply chain and increase the availability of certified fodder seeds. Through incentivisation, it also encourages entrepreneurs to establish fodder blocks and hay-bailing units.
It focuses on entrepreneurship and breed development in livestock (cattle, pig, goat, and sheep) and poultry birds. To this end, it provides incentives to individuals, Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
It aims to incentivise Universities and Research Organisations to carry out research related to the sheep, pig, goat, and fodder sector, livestock insurance, innovations, and extension services.
The following entrepreneurs and entities are eligible to avail of benefits under the NLM if they fulfil the below-given eligibility criteria:
The NLM Scheme provides a 50% subsidy on capital expenditure to aspiring entrepreneurs for setting up a cattle farm, pig farm, goat farm, poultry farm, and sheep farm. The maximum ceiling on subsidy varies as given below:
The Government of India in February 2024 included three additional activities under the NLM. These are:
Provide 50% capital subsidy up to INR 50 lakhs for establishing entrepreneurs for Fodder Seed Processing Infrastructure such as fodder storage godowns.
To assist the state governments in promoting fodder cultivation in the non-forest land and wasteland/non-arable land/range land/ forest land. The aim is to increase the availability of fodder.