Director's Message
The livestock sector in India is a unique one with large populations of different species and diverse breeds. The essential aspect of livestock production sustainability depends on the sustained utility of the species.The importance of economic demand-driven production in the changing socio-economic conditions and land utilization needs prime consideration in the development of programmes and policies in the livestock sector. Innovative interventions and pragmatic approaches need to support sustained livestock production under a range of situations. In the post-WTO era,the Indian livestock sector plays an important role in increasing urban populations and rising incomes which compound the demand for livestock products. Efficiency in productivity commands the prospects. Stakeholder and expert involvement are of paramount importance in formulation appropriate and implementable regulations. Relevant production interventions and policies as permitted by constitutional provisions need to be pursued to exploit and realize the full production potential to sustain the farmers’ interest in animal production activities.
Sustainable animal production largely depends on feed supplies and costs, production efficiency, and utilization of products. Effective utilization of livestock produce is important and depends on hygienic production, cost-efficient processing technologies, creating demand for the product, innovative marketing approach, utilization and proper disposal of by-products and waste, and providing a positive image. Women constitute about 69% of the workforce engaged in the livestock sector. The resource-poorsmall and marginal farmers and landless labourers own the majority of the livestockresources. Mixed farming is the most efficient one for sustainability in the Indian context.Mixed farming with value addition to the crop sector is largely practiced and has been considered the most efficient one.
The relevance of the meat sector has increased in the country due to changes in livestock rearing purpose and functions necessitated by socio-economic changes, increasing urbanization, mechanization in agriculture, changes in crop production, and land utilization pattern due to increasing human populations and diversification in land use. With increasing economic and social pressures working on livestock production it would not be possible to continue with sustained livestock production unless the meat function is realized to the full extent with modern marketing approaches. Thus, the need for meat sector development has emerged forthe increased utility of the species in the larger interest of society.
In India per capita, meat consumption at about 4 kg per year is dismally low as compared to the world average of 35 kg or many other countries. Meat export needsto be considered as a value addition approach of crop production as the crop residues and agri-byproducts are largely converted through meat animals to meat for export in the modern meat plants for international trade and to earn higher returns.
Promoting rural feed processing would go a long way in improving the productivity of livestock in the changing livestock feeding practices due to changes in land utilization and urbanization.
The country is implementing FMD Control programme that has been endorsed by OIE since 2005 which has been extended to the entire country as of date. FMD disease-free zones establishment needs to be pursued for any substantial increase in exports.
Meat Processing is an important requirement for organized meat sector development to emphasizethe meat processing and products sector. Meat processing must achieve as many of the advantages of meat processing and value addition in the Indian context of better utilization of tough meats from culled stock as they constitute a considerable proportion of meat animals. Small scale ventures of value-added products would go a long way in improving the economics of livestock production and meeting consumer demands. The growth of the processed meat sector assures the farmers a regular off-take of their produce at reasonable prices and provides a variety to the consumer. From the present 1-2 percent level, it should be targeted to 15-20 percent level of processed meats production of the total meat produced in the country.
Traceability has emerged as a new benchmark for ensuring food safety around the world. Enactment of Food Recall Regulations, 2017 by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, a national initiative on the identification of cattle and buffaloes by Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and launching of Meat.Net for post-slaughter traceability of meat in export abattoirs by APEDA has created a conducive environment for implementation of traceability in India.
In its mission to ensure organized meat sector development in the country, the Institute would work with five broader aims viz., sustainable meat animal and poultry production; hygienic meat production and effective slaughterhouse by-products utilization; enhancing quality and safety of meat and meat products; development of value-added meat products and flagship programmes for weaker sections of the society. Modernization of meat inspection services through essential infrastructure facilities to produce hygienic meat is an important requirement for private entrepreneurs to take up slaughter and meat production activities for the domestic and export market.
Modernization of the existing slaughterhouses including the development of mobile slaughterhouses to ensure humane and hygienic slaughter of animals and promotion of ‘Meat on Wheels’, an innovation of NRCM will be prioritized. Encouraging and facilitating the youth towards entrepreneurship programmes, Start-Ups, and e-marketing platforms will be pursued through agri-business incubator. Strengthening linkages through collaborative research and training programmes with other research units will be given due priority.
The institute is working on all aspects of meat production including organic meat production, fresh meat technology, processed meat and value addition, identification of meat adulteration, traceability, meatborne pathogens, implementation of One Health approach in studying the chemical residues and antimicrobial resistance in foods chain, occupational hazards, and zoonotic infectionsas well as the promotion of entrepreneurship in the meat sector. The frontier areas of research involving nanotechnology and biotechnology in the detection of adulteration and packaging are also being taken up. The Institute will continue to fulfill all the important attributes of inclusive growth as the participation of poor and weaker sections is very high. The Institute will also provide leadership to solve the problems and face challenges of meat and allied sectors development and act as a national repository of information in meat and allied sectors.
Dr.S.B.Barbuddhe,
Director