Bovine Economy in the Indo-Gangetic plain of India

Nearly 70 per cent of the population in India is dependent on agriculture. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is agriculturally the most fertile region of the country and boasts of nearly 36 per cent of the bovine population of the country.

Title of paper: Dynamics of bovine economy in the Indo-Gangetic plain of India: Issues of growth, equity and sustainability

Authors:Singh N.P., Kumar Ranjit, Singh R.P.
Division of Agricultural Economics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR), New Delhi-110012.

The livestock is an important segment of expanding and diverse agricultrural sector of the Indian economy, in general and the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), in particular. The IGP region boasts of nearly 36 per cent of the bovine (cattle and buffalo) population of the country. With persistent research efforts, potentially high-yielding breeds have been developed, but their adoption has been highly inequitable. A majority of cross-bred cattle as well as high-yielding buffalo breeds are concentrated in the Trans-Gangetic Plain (TGP) sub-region, due to a higher emphasis of crossbreeding programme and commercial orientation of dairying. The higher ratio of cattle to buffalo in the IGP region is indicative of the overwhelming role of the cattle as we transcend eastwards from the Trans-Gangetic Plain to the Lower-Gangetic Plain.

The contribution of bovine enterprises in different forms has revealed vast potential in furthering the economy of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Milk continues to acquire the major share (68–95%) in the bovine economy across various sub-regions of the IGP. However, the contribution of derived products like draught power (2–14%) and manurial nutrients (2–16%) cannot be ignored in the light of sustainability of the region. Overall, the bovine sector contributes to the tune of Rs 235 billion to the IGP economy. Keeping in view the squeezing landholdings across the IGP region, the livestock sector holds a greater promise in providing better returns and gainful employment for the landless and smallholders. From sustainable growth, equity and sustainability considerations, holistic policies encompassing breed improvement, and veterinary services on a regional perspective are called for.

Introduction

Contrary to many developed countries, where less than 3 per cent of the population is engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, nearly 70 per cent of the population in India is dependent on agriculture (mainly crop production and livestock rearing). This apparent paradox is much accentuated by the fact that 70 per cent of the country's livestock is owned by small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. The livestock has emerged as an important segment of the expanding and diverse agricultural sector of the Indian economy. The share of livestock sub-sector in the gross agricultural output has increased from 6 per cent in 1970–71 to over 24 per cent in 1999–2000 (excluding the animal draught power) and accounted for Rs 1302 billion (CSO, 2002). The dynamic interaction of animal husbandry and agricultural sector is more pronounced in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) of India. The region boasting most of the irrigated agriculture, has been the centre of production strategies, public investment in research and infrastructure development coupled with appropriate policy mix that has greatly helped in achieving self-sufficiency in food. However, the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources in these intensively cultivated areas has raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the agricultural production system and environment.

In the recent past, several indicators have highlighted that natural resources of the region, especially land, water and bio-diversity are under severe pressure in meeting the growing demand of increasing population and income. The role of livestock in enhancing the overall sustainability of the system is proven (Patel, 1993). Keeping in view the fragile stability of the region, the intertwining of the livestock sector with the crop husbandry in its true form will go a long way in stabilizing the rural economy of the IGP region of the country. Moreover, there is a disturbing fact that the share of agricultural work force in the total work force in the country is not declining and that the absolute number of people dependent on agriculture for employment and income is increasing due to inelastic absorptive capacity for labour in other sectors of the economy, particularly industry. Owing to ever increasing pressure on land, livestock sub-sector has the scope for generating more employment opportunities, especially for marginal and small farmers and landless labourers. Further, development of livestock sub-sector in the rural economy of the IGP region enhances food and nutritional security, and hence calls for its expansion.

In an attempt to raise the issues for integrating livestock with land use planning, it was felt necessary to look at the livestock dynamics from the agro-climatic region based land-use planning approach. At present, the irrigated agriculture, in general and the Indo-Gangetic region, in particular is confronted with several economic and ecological problems, threatening the very sustainability of agricultural production (Kumar et al., 2002). It is felt that integrating livestock in a system perspective would arrest the sustainability concerns of the Indo-Gangetic plains, which is the backbone of food security of India. It also requires a focused attention on equitable growth in all the sub-regions of IGP, as it inhabits a large population mainly dependent on agriculture and livestock for livelihood. Under this backdrop, the present study to examine the dynamics of bovine economy, will provide a broader dimension for rationalization of livestock developmental programmes, and look into the contemporary issues of growth, equity and sustainability in this sector.

Conclusions and Policy Implications

The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is agriculturally the most fertile region of the country and boasts of nearly 36 per cent of the bovine population of the country. Owing to sustained research, potentially high-yielding breeds have been developed, but their adoptions has been very inequitable. Only 7.5 per cent of the total cattle population consists of cross-bred, mostlyconcentrated in the TGP sub-region. Further, improved breeds of buffalo (per cent) are predominantly concentrated in this sub-region due to higher milk yield, wider adaptability and price premium on milk due to its higher fat content. The higher ratio of cattle to buffalo in the IGP region than the national average is indicative of the overwhelming role of the cattle as a source of draught power in this region. Further, there is a wide variation in this ratio across different sub-regions of the IGP. The dominance of cattle increases as we transcend eastwards from the Trans-Gangetic Plain to the Lower-Gangetic Plain.

The contribution of bovine in different forms to the economy of the Indo-Gangetic Plain has been quite significant. Keeping in view the declining size of landholdings across the IGP region, the livestock sector holds greater promise in providing draught animal power for the smallholders. The manurial nutrient availability will help in sustaining agriculture from the farming systems perspective by maintaining soil health.

The bovine dynamics in the IGP region raises several questions regarding the efficacy of livestock development policies in the past with similar policies for other agricultural technological interventions. This calls for holistic policies encompassing breed improvement and effective veterinary services on a regional perspective. The development of breeds suiting to different agro-climatic regions will go a long way in providing the equitable development of the bovine sector across various sub-regions of the IGP region. Better feeding practices and appropriate veterinary services would help in maintaining good health of the bovine stock, which in turn, will increase milk yield as well as draught power to the farmers in the region. Large animal wealth promises a wider scope for exploitation of meat and by-products potential. A focused attention on the maintenance of hygiene and other sanitary measures would help enhance the prospects for better trade of livestock products.

Published: 11 Jul 2006

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Agricultural Economics Research Review