The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, held a stakeholder workshop on July 9, 2025, in New Delhi, focusing on modernizing India's animal husbandry sector for quality production. The workshop, aligned with the theme of transforming Indian agriculture through technology and innovation, brought together representatives from the central government, states/UTs, the National Dairy Development Board, milk federations, and other key stakeholders. Secretary Alka Upadhyaya emphasized animal husbandry's significant contribution of 30.7% to the country's agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) and DAHD's commitment to aligning with global standards. Discussions centered on strategies to enhance productivity, ensure quality-driven growth, and promote innovation and technology adoption within the sector, including the formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Additional Secretary Varsha Joshi highlighted the challenge of ensuring quality production, particularly regarding fodder, and showcased DAHD's achievements in milk, egg, and meat production. The workshop included regional sessions focusing on region-specific challenges and opportunities, with a final session dedicated to outlining a roadmap for collaborative action based on feedback from states and UTs, aimed at strategic implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry Dairying: The central ministry responsible for the animal husbandry sector in India.
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying: A department within the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, responsible for policies and programs related to animal husbandry.
Alka Upadhyaya: Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi: The venue in New Delhi where the Workshop on Modernizing Indias Animal Husbandry Sector for Quality Production was held.
National Dairy Development Board: An organization involved in dairy development in India.
Farmer Producer Organizations: Organizations of farmers that aim to improve their income and productivity.
Andhra Pradesh: One of the Southern States of India participating in the workshop.
Uttar Pradesh: One of the Northern States of India participating in the workshop.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
For Modernizing India’s Animal Husbandry Sector
and Quality Production Stakeholder Workshop
Animal Husbandry is a cash-generating sector,
contributing 30.7% to the country’s total agricultural
Gross Value Added (GVA)
Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Animal
Husbandry and Dairying re-affirmed DAHD’s
commitment to aligning with global standards for a
modern, resilient Animal Husbandry sector in the
nation
Posted On: 09 JUL 2025 9:49PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, organised a Workshop
on Modernizing India’s Animal Husbandry Sector for Quality Productionon today at Vigyan Bhawan,
New Delhi. It was held highlighting the theme of “Transforming India’s Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy,
th
Fisheries and Processing through Technology and Innovation which was in line with the 4 Conference
of Chief Secretaries Six Departmental Summits.It was chaired by Smt. Alka Upadhyaya,Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The
discourse brought together Centre Government, States/UTs, National Dairy Development Board, Milk
Federation, and other key stakeholders from across the country. The main objective was to deliberate on
strategies to modernize the animal husbandry sector, enhance productivity, and ensure quality-driven growth
through innovation and technology adoption.
In the keynote address, Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Government of India, highlighted that Animal Husbandry is a cash-generating sector, contributing 30.7% to
the country’s total agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA).She further shedding light on the need for
innovation, better quality, stronger collaboration at the National and State level said that formation of more
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the sector is essential. She also drew attention to the challenges
faced on the ground. She affirmed DAHD’s commitment to aligning with global standards for a modern,
resilient Animal Husbandry sector.Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary (C&DD), DAHD, Government of India, welcomed the participants
and presented the concept of Department’ s theme. She highlighted the challenge of ensuring quality
production and stressed the need for good quality fodder in the livestock sector. She also shared key
achievements of DAHD in milk, egg, and meat production, highlighting India's growing strength in animal
husbandry. She underlined the need to modernise the sector, especially in areas like breeding, disease
surveillance, and skill development.The workshop included four regional sessions to enable focused discussions with representatives from
northern states (J&K, Ladakh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh), Western
States (Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan), Southern States (Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry), Eastern and North-
Eastern States (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura,
Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar).
Each session actively discussed region-specific challenges and opportunities, focusing on enhancing
productivity, controlling diseases, and promoting sustainable livestock practices. The concluding session
captured feedback from States/UTs and outlined a roadmap for collaborative action wherein the
representatives from the States collectively contributed in the way forward i.e. the strategy for
implementation.
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RN
(Release ID: 2143576)