Parliament Question: Dairy and Livestock Farmers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1471 ANSWERED ON 28TH JULY, 2026 DAIRY AND LIVESTOCK FARMERS 1471: SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN: Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of inadequate veterinary services, fodder shortages and limited market access for dairy and livestock farmers in Western Uttar Pradesh; (b) if so, the details of steps taken by the Government to improve animal healthcare, dairy infrastructure and farmer’s income in the region; (c) whether similar challenges persist in other parts of the country; and (d) if so, the details of national initiatives undertaken to strengthen fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying sectors? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) to (d) Animal Husbandry is a state subject and the arrangement of veterinary services and making availability of feed and fodder is the mandate of the State Government. The Government of India has issued minimum standards of veterinary infrastructure with provisions for fulfilling the standards in a phased manner by 2036. The adoption of these guidelines is mandatory under “Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)” guidelines. Veterinary services are being provided to farmers by the State of Uttar Pradesh through a network of 2,202 veterinary hospitals, 2,575 Livestock Extension Officer (LEO) Centers, 267 D-class dispensaries, and 520 Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) operating to deliver doorstep services to farmers state-wide, including western Uttar Pradesh. There is a shortage of fodder in the state. As per ICAR–Indian Grasslands and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi estimates, the requirement of green and dry fodder in Uttar Pradesh is 1499.6 lakh tonnes and 735.1 lakh tonnes, respectively, against the estimated availability of 1145.0 lakh tonnes of green fodder and 511.5 lakh tonnes of dry fodder. The Uttar Pradesh Government is implementing a state scheme for all districts of Uttar Pradesh namely "Additional Fodder Development Programme (AFDP)", in which department is distributing certified fodder seed minikit to the farmers at free of cost for promoting quality green fodder cultivation. Further the State Government of Uttar Pradesh is implementing fodder policy for increasing fodder availability through increasing area coverage for fodder production. Government of India has taken various initiatives to strengthen fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying sector. In this regard, various schemes are implemented by the Government of India in all the states and union territories including in the State of Uttar Pradesh. The details are as under:The Government of India has approved “Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)” wherein the states are eligible to get the incentives after compliance of mandatory conditions. One among the mandatory conditions is to increase fodder production by using fund available under VB-GRAM G. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India (DAHD, GOI) provides financial assistance under National Livestock Mission for genetic improvement of non-bovine livestock, insurance, entrepreneurship development, production of good quality fodder seed and fodder. DAHD, GOI released Rs. 3857.00 lakh to the state of Uttar Pradesh during the last three years. Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) is implemented by the DAHD, GOI to conserve indigenous breed and to enhance productivity of cattle and buffalo. National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) and Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations (SCDPO) schemes are implemented to support, strengthen, expansion of organized milk procurement network. The schemes also envisage assistance in creating and strengthening infrastructure for milk processing and value-added product manufacturing infrastructure and assisting the cooperative societies and farmer producer organizations engaged in dairy activities. Under Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), 100% central assistance is provided for vaccination of targeted animals against economically important diseases, namely Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF). Further, to deliver veterinary services at farmers doorstep, total 4019 mobile veterinary units have been provided to 29 States/UTs. Financial support is provided on sharing basis for operations of the same. Also, under ASCAD component of LHDCP, financial support on sharing basis is provided to the states for prevention and control of state prioritized livestock diseases. DAHD, GOI is also implementing Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) Scheme which provides 3% interest subvention for leveraging investment in the establishment of dairy processing and value addition infrastructure, meat processing and value addition infrastructure, animal feed plant, breed multiplication farm, veterinary vaccine and drugs production facilities, animal waste to wealth management (agri-waste management) and primary wool processing infrastructure. 23 Dairy Processing and value addition projects with project cost of Rs. 1403.40 lakh have been established in the state of Uttar Pradesh since 2020-21. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) with a total investment of Rs.20,990.79 crore with effect from the financial year 2020-21 to till date for development of fisheries in all States/Union Territories including Uttar Pradesh. Further, the Fisheries Department under the PMMSY has accorded approval to the various fisheries developmental proposals of Government of Uttar Pradesh at a total cost of ₹.1294.32 crore with central share of ₹. 412.30 crore. An amount of ₹.336.61 crore has been released to the state of Uttar Pradesh from 2020-21 to 2026-27. ******