**Executive Summary**
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), in collaboration with ICAR-CSWRI, held a sheep symposium on December 22nd, 2025, in Avikanagar, Rajasthan. The symposium focused on integrated value chains in the sheep and goat sector, with discussions centered on improving productivity, developing high-performing breeds, and increasing the sector's contribution to rural livelihoods. The newsletter of CSWRI at a Glance was released during the event.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Symposium Overview:**
* Organized by DAHD in collaboration with ICAR-CSWRI.
* Held on December 22nd, 2025, in Avikanagar, Rajasthan.
* Focused on integrated value chains in the sheep and goat sector.
* **Government Initiatives and Support:**
* Emphasis on sheep breed improvement programs under the National Livestock Mission (NLM).
* Capital subsidy of up to 50% (maximum ₹50 lakh) is being provided for projects with a capacity of 500 sheep/or goats.
* DAHD is providing 3% interest subvention under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) for waste-to-wealth initiatives, vaccine production units, and primary wool processing units.
* Government supports states through PPR vaccination programs.
* **Sector Development:**
* Need to strengthen veterinary services.
* Need to enhance productivity in meat and wool.
* Need to develop high-performing breeds.
* Need to develop integrated value chains in the sheep sector, similar to those in the dairy sector.
* Importance of private sector participation in training farmers and entrepreneurs.
* Need for capacity building and skill development.
* Emphasis on the need to strengthen research-driven interventions in the sector.
* **Key Remarks and Statistics:**
* Sheep and goats referred to as the "ATM of the poor".
* India contributes nearly 25% of global milk production and ranks second in egg production globally.
**Impact Analysis**
**Sheep and Goat Farmers**
* **Impact**: Access to improved breeds, financial support through subsidies and interest subvention, and improved veterinary services leading to enhanced productivity and income.
* **Action Required**: Participate in training programs, access available financial schemes, and engage with veterinary services for disease control and breed improvement.
**Entrepreneurs and Industry Groups**
* **Impact**: Opportunities for investments in waste-to-wealth initiatives, vaccine production units, primary wool processing units, and expansion of sheep and goat-based industries.
* **Action Required**: Explore investment opportunities, participate in training programs, and collaborate with government initiatives to promote the sector's growth.
**Government and ICAR-CSWRI**
* **Impact**: Requires strengthening of veterinary services, implementation of PPR vaccination programs, development of integrated value chains, and promotion of private sector participation.
* **Action Required**: Implement and monitor support programs (NLM, AHIDF), strengthen veterinary infrastructure, formulate policies that incentivize private sector participation, and disseminate research findings to farmers.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD): The primary agency calling for integrated value chains in the sheep and goat sector.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying: The ministry to which DAHD belongs.
National Livestock Mission (NLM): The mission under which sheep breed improvement programmes are being emphasized.
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF): Fund that DAHD is using to provide 3% interest subvention for related activities.
ICAR-Central Sheep Wool Research Institute (ICAR-CSWRI): Institute that collaborated with DAHD to organize a sheep symposium.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
(DAHD) Calls for Integrated Value Chains in
Sheep and Goat Sector
प्रव तथ: 22 DEC 2025 8:29PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry &
Dairying, Government of India, in collaboration with ICAR-Central Sheep Wool Research Institute
(ICAR-CSWRI), organized a sheep symposium on 22nd December, 2025 at ICAR-CSWRI, Avikanagar,
Rajasthan.
The event was graced by Shri. Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, DAHD, Dr Praveen Malik, Animal
Husbandry Commissioner, Dr Muthukumarsamy B., Joint Secretary, DAHD, Shri Ritesh Chauhan,
Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Govt of Himachal Pradesh along with officials from
Government and CSWRI.
The event also witnessed countrywide participation from various State Animal Husbandry Departments,
ICAR Institutes like ICAR-National Meat Research Institute, ICAR-National Institute of Natural Fibre
Engineering and Technology, Central Wool Development Board, CCS-National Institute of Agricultural
Marketing, National dairy Development Board, Industry groups, start-ups, Non-Government
Organisations, experts, entrepreneurs and sheep farmers.Dr. Arun Kumar Tomar, Director, ICAR-CSWRI delivered the welcome address acknowledging the
presence of dignitaries and participants. He briefed about the status of sheep, mutton and wool sector in
the country.
Dr. Muthukumarasamy B, Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD),
stated that the Department is giving special emphasis to sheep breed improvement programmes under the
National Livestock Mission (NLM). Under the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) of
NLM, capital subsidy of up to 50% (maximum ₹50 lakh) is being provided for projects with a capacity of
500 sheep/or goats. The response to scheme is overwhelming.
He added that under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), DAHD is
providing 3% interest subvention for activities such as waste-to-wealth initiatives, vaccine production
units, and primary wool processing units. While highlighting the need for capacity building and skill
development, he stressed upon the importance of private sector participation in training farmers and
entrepreneurs.
He highlighted the genetic improvement initiatives of the Government and emphasized on need of reach
of Artificial insemination services to rural households through mobile veterinary vans.
Dr Praveen Malik, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, GOI emphsasized the need of recognizing the
resources and make policies accordingly.
Mr. Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD),
Government of India, informed that the dairy and poultry sectors in the country have successfully
developed robust value chains through cooperatives and private enterprises, ensuring remunerative prices
for farmers. He highlighted that India contributes nearly 25% of global milk production and ranks second
in egg production globally.
Emphasising the untapped potential of the sheep and goat sector, he remarked that sheep and goats are
often referred to as the “ATM of the poor”, underscoring their importance in rural livelihoods. He stressed
the need to strengthen this sector through research-driven interventions, ensuring that outcomes ofresearch reach farmers directly. He underlined the necessity of developing integrated value chains in the
sheep sector, similar to those in the dairy sector.
On disease control, he stated that states must strengthen veterinary services, with the Government of India
supporting them through PPR vaccination programmes, which is crucial given the high export potential
and growing domestic demand–supply gap. He emphasised the need to enhance productivity in meat and
wool and to develop high-performing breeds, especially in view of declining wool demand due to
synthetic alternatives.
During the seminar, a newsletter on CSWRI at a Glance has also been released.
The symposium consisted of technical sessions on wool, mutton, milk, sheep genetic resources and
entrepreneurship in sheep husbandry wherein the farmers, entrepreneurs, industry and experts had a
threadbare discussions on the issues relating to sheep sector.
******
JP
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2207549) आगंतुक पटल : 5970
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही