Virtual Drive Empowers 2 Lakh Livestock Farmers

Over 2 lakh farmers joined a virtual awareness program led by Minister Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, promoting modern technologies and government schemes to enhance livestock productivity and rural livelihoods.

Highlights:

• Virtual event held on July 23, 2025, chaired by Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel.
• Conducted via 4,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs) across 16 states/UTs.
• 2+ lakh livestock farmers participated, mainly from Northern & North-Eastern India.
• Focus on artificial insemination, breed improvement, FMD vaccination, and AHD Kisan Credit Card.
• Officials including Smt. Alka Upadhyaya and Ms. Varsha Joshi emphasized technology adoption and regional development.
• Sessions included expert talks and videos promoting livestock entrepreneurship and sustainability.

In a major outreach initiative aimed at empowering livestock farmers, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, chaired a Virtual Awareness Program on July 23, 2025. Organized by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), the program connected over 2 lakh livestock farmers from 16 States and Union Territories via 4,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs).

Senior officials including Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary (DAHD), and Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, also addressed the farmers. The initiative focused on boosting rural livelihoods, promoting livestock entrepreneurship, and ensuring wider adoption of government welfare schemes.

In his keynote address, Prof. Baghel highlighted India’s leading role in the dairy sector, contributing 25% of the world’s milk production. He emphasized the transformative potential of modern practices such as artificial insemination, genomic selection, and robust vaccination programs. The Minister encouraged the use of the AHD Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and reiterated the government’s aim to transition livestock cooperatives into the organized sector.

Underscoring the success of the FMD-Mukt Bharat initiative, he shared that over 100 crore vaccine doses had already been administered, helping safeguard animal health and boost productivity.

Smt. Alka Upadhyaya spotlighted the government’s commitment to last-mile service delivery, especially in hilly and remote regions of the North-East. She urged farmers to capitalize on local resources to build sustainable livestock enterprises.

Ms. Varsha Joshi emphasized the integration of advanced breeding technologies like Sex-Sorted Semen and IVF, which can significantly raise livestock productivity.

The event featured expert-led sessions and informative videos, providing insights on modern animal husbandry practices, government support programs, and entrepreneurship development.

This virtual initiative reflects DAHD’s ongoing mission to harness digital platforms for direct farmer engagement, encouraging knowledge exchange and greater participation in rural growth through the livestock sector.