Question : Livestock Census

(a) whether any census for cattle like cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep etc. has been conducted;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/Union Territory-wise;
(c) whether the Government is committed to keep more than fifty crore cattle healthy;
(d) if so, the points to be covered under such activity;
(e) whether there is any provision of subsidy for cattle feed to keep milch and non-milch animals health in rural areas;
(f) if so, the details thereof; and
(g) if not, whether the Government is likely to provide subsidy on cattle feed every month by issuing a card in this regard after getting the census conducted?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a) &(b): Yes, Sir. The 20thLivestock Census was conducted with the participation of State/Union Territory Governments. The State/Union Territory-wise details of population of cattle, buffaloes, goat, sheep etc. is placed at Annexure.

(c) & (d):The Government implements the Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) to supplement the efforts of all State /Union Territory Governments for prevention, control and contentment of livestock and poultry diseases by providing financial assistance for carrying out vaccination against economically important diseases.



The Government also implements a new central sector scheme namely, National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) for Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis with a total outlay of Rs. 13,343 Crore for five years,i.e.from 2019-20 to 2023-24.The objective of the scheme is (i) to achieve control of FMD by 2025 with vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig and eventual eradication of this disease by 2030 and (ii) to control Brucellosis. Under NADCP 100% vaccination of all cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs in the country biannually against FMD and 100% vaccination coverage of female cattle and buffalo calves (4-8 months of age) once in a life time against Brucellosis is targeted.

(e) to (g) The Central Government has no specific scheme that provides subsidy on cattle feed. However, the facilities under Kisan Credit Card has been extended to animal husbandry farmers for their working capital requirements by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NBARD) during 2019-20. As per RBI guidelines, the working capital components in animal husbandry under the scale of finance also include recurring cost towards feeding, veterinary aid, labour, water and electricity supply.


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