**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying conducted a Virtual Awareness Programme for livestock farmers across the country on the occasion of "Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare Awareness Month" (January 14th – February 13th, 2026). The program, chaired by the Hon'ble MoS Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, saw participation from over 1.25 lakh livestock farmers from 28 States/UTs. The program aimed to promote awareness and share knowledge on key topics to boost awareness in the livestock and dairy sector.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Event Overview:**
* A Virtual Awareness Camp was held to celebrate "Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare Awareness Month."
* Over 1.25 Lakh livestock farmers from 28 States/UTs participated through 2,500 Common Service Centers (CSCs).
* **Key Speakers & Participants:**
* Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel chaired the program.
* Shri. Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, DAHD, and other department officers also attended.
* **Discussion Topics:**
* Livestock farmers' vital role in strengthening the nation's economy.
* The importance of animal husbandry and dairy sectors.
* Government initiatives like nationwide vaccination programs and the Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
* The use of Sex-Sorted Semen (SSS) for enhanced livestock productivity.
* Importance of animal insurance and timely vaccination.
* Zoonotic diseases and the need for effective disease control.
* Ethno Veterinary Medicine and its relevance in the context of rising Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR).
* Expert-led sessions on pastoralism, ethnoveterinary medicine, biosecurity, vaccination, animal welfare, and animal-related laws.
* Screening of videos on Pastoralism and Vaccination.
* **Farmer Engagement:**
* The Hon'ble MoS interacted with livestock farmers to address their grievances and provide clarifications on government schemes.
* Knowledge sharing on animal welfare laws and improved animal husbandry practices.
**Impact Analysis**
**Livestock Farmers**
* **Impact:**
* Increased awareness of government schemes, best practices in animal husbandry, animal welfare laws, and disease control measures.
* Opportunity to voice grievances and seek clarifications on government schemes.
* **Action Required:**
* Implement the knowledge and practices gained to enhance livestock productivity and animal welfare.
* Utilize available government schemes and resources for the betterment of their operations.
**Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD)**
* **Impact:**
* Increased outreach and engagement with livestock farmers across the country.
* Promotion of key government initiatives and policies related to animal husbandry and dairying.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to leverage digital platforms for awareness campaigns and farmer engagement.
* Address the grievances and concerns raised by livestock farmers during the program.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD): The department is responsible for policies and programs related to animal husbandry and dairying in India.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying: The central government ministry responsible for the animal husbandry and dairy sectors in India.
Virtual Awareness Programme for livestock farmers: A program aimed at educating livestock farmers across India on animal husbandry and welfare.
Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare Awareness Month: A designated month to promote awareness and practices related to animal husbandry and animal welfare.
Rashtriya Gokul Mission: A government initiative focused on the conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Virtual Awareness Programme for livestock
farmers across the country on the occasion of
“Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare
Awareness Month”
Over 1.25 Lakh Livestock Farmers joined Virtual Awareness
Programme Chaired by Hon’ble MoS Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 7:24PM by PIB Delhi
Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Hon’ble Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and
Panchayati Raj, today chaired a Virtual Awareness Camp on the occasion of “Animal Husbandry and
Animal Welfare Awareness Month” (14th January–13th February 2026) across the country. Shri. Naresh
Pal Gangwar, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ms. Varsha Joshi,
Additional Secretary, DAHD, Shri. Rama Shankar Sinha, Additional Secretary, DAHD, Dr. Naveena. B.
Maheswarappa, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, along with other officers of the department also
attended the session. More than 1.25 Lakhs livestock farmers from 28 States/UTs participated in the
program virtually through 2,500 Common Service Centers (CSCs).
Addressing the gathering, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel lauded the vital role played by livestock farmers in
strengthening the nation’s economy. He highlighted that the animal husbandry and dairy sectors are key
drivers in achieving the Honorable Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat. Attributing India’s leading
position in global milk production to the dedicated efforts of livestock farmers, he noted that the country
contributes 25 percent of the world’s total milk output. Prof. Baghel also commended various government
initiatives, including nationwide vaccination programs, the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and the adoption ofSex-Sorted Semen (SSS), which have significantly enhanced livestock productivity. He further
underscored the importance of animal insurance and also stressed the need for timely vaccination to
ensure animal health and sustainable growth of the sector.
Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, DAHD, elaborated on zoonotic diseases—diseases that can be
transmitted from animals to humans—and emphasized the need for effective disease control measures at
the grassroot level to ensure healthy livestock and safeguard public health. He also highlighted the
relevance of giving importance to Ethno Veterinary Medicine particularly in the context of rising Anti-
Microbial Resistance (AMR), underscoring their importance in promoting sustainable and responsible
animal healthcare.
The awareness program included expert-led sessions on pastoralism, ethnoveterinary medicine,
biosecurity, vaccination, animal welfare, and animal-related laws, along with the screening of videos on
Pastoralism and Vaccination for the livestock farmers . The Hon’ble MoS also interacted with the
livestock farmers present at the awareness programme, who expressed their grievances and sought
clarifications regarding the government schemes and programmes.The Virtual Awareness Programme provided a platform for sharing knowledge on key topics such as
animal welfare laws, improved animal husbandry practices for enhanced health and productivity, and the
crucial role of livestock farmers in rural development. This initiative is part of DAHD’s ongoing efforts to
boost awareness in the livestock and dairy sector by leveraging digital platforms and directly engaging
with farmers across the country.
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JP.
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