THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, AUGUST 11, 2026

India’s livestock economy is gaining stronger financial and productivity support, with institutional credit access for animal husbandry farmers expanding sharply and milk output crossing domestic demand, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh said on Tuesday.

Kisan Credit Card (KCC) coverage for animal husbandry farmers rose to 50.42 lakh beneficiaries in 2025-26, more than three times the 15.08 lakh recorded in 2021-22, marking a significant expansion in formal credit access for the livestock sector.

Singh said India’s annual milk production reached 247.87 million tonnes in 2024-25, exceeding domestic demand of around 243 million tonnes. Dairy exports also stood at USD 407.18 million in 2025-26, underscoring the sector’s growing contribution to the rural economy and external trade.

The government is simultaneously stepping up efforts to improve livestock productivity and genetic resilience through flagship programmes such as the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) and National Livestock Mission (NLM). The RGM focuses on conservation and genetic upgradation of indigenous bovine breeds, scientific breeding and improving milk productivity to make dairying more remunerative for farmers.

The NLM, meanwhile, seeks to promote scientific livestock breeding, improve feed and fodder availability, generate employment and foster entrepreneurship while raising production of meat, goat milk, eggs and wool. Under its entrepreneurship development component, a capital subsidy of up to 50 per cent is available to individuals, FPOs, SHGs, JLGs, farmer cooperatives and Section 8 companies for activities covering breed development, feed and fodder, research, insurance and extension.

In Tamil Nadu, the government has also strengthened animal healthcare and disease-control measures under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme. Full financial assistance is provided to States and Union Territories for vaccination against economically important diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants and Classical Swine Fever.

The Centre is further supporting Tamil Nadu on a cost-sharing basis for other disease-control measures and veterinary infrastructure, including disease surveillance, laboratories, training and awareness programmes. Financial assistance is also being provided for the operation of 245 Mobile Veterinary Units, taking veterinary services directly to farmers’ doorsteps.

The initiatives reflect the government’s broader push to combine easier institutional finance, scientific breeding, entrepreneurship and accessible animal healthcare to raise livestock productivity and strengthen farm incomes.