Livestock Farming got a huge boost with subsidy allotment in budget 2020. Citing the profits from animal husbandry, the government has taken a series of actions to improve its status.
Allocation to Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry has become a luring business in livestock farming because of its profit-generating capacity. It is the most suitable business after farming which the farmers can take up to increase their income. The government has allocated Rs 3289 crores to the Animal husbandry and Dairy sector this year (18% more than 2019-20’s allocation). Out of this, Rs 825 crores has been allocated to the fishery sector. Further, the government decided to develop fodder farms under MGNREGS’s program. This will not only help to boost milk production but will also protect natural grasslands, protecting the environment.
Livestock Farming: Fishery
Intending to boost fish production by 200 lakh tonnes by 2022, the government has encouraged rural youth to work for this sector. FM, in her budget speech, said that the government hopes rural youth to work as ‘Sagar Mitras’. Also, the government will help developing fish farmer organizations to take this sector to the next level.
Livestock Farming: Rural Backyard Sheep, Goat and Piggery Scheme
The government decided to provide a 90% subsidy on goat/sheep and pig rearing. While the Centre government will pay 60% of the cost, the state government will cover 30% of the cost. This means that the farmer will just have to bear 10% of the cost. The Animal Husbandry Department has fixed Rs 66,000 and Rs 21,000 as costs for Goat/sheep and pig rearing. To avail the benefits for the scheme, the potential beneficiary needs to deposit 10% of the total cost in their respective accounts opened under the scheme. The rest of the amount will be deposited by the government through the RTGS scheme. The department has set a target for 30-30 for sheep, goat and 50 for pig.
The scheme has already been initiated in Uttar Pradesh. The interested ones (who are already in this business) can apply to the block-level veterinary officer. The district-level selection committee will shortlist the candidates after proper evaluation.
In all, the government has taken some serious steps to promote well being of livestock farmers in budget 2020.