GG News Bureau
New Delhi/Rome, 30th Sept: Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh presented India’s farmer-centric livestock and dairy model at the 2nd Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.
Addressing the high-level ministerial session, Singh said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has achieved rapid growth in the sector, lifting millions from poverty while ensuring food security and nutrition. He noted the livestock industry’s 12.77% CAGR, its 31% share in agricultural GVA, and India’s status as the world’s largest milk producer with 239 million tonnes annually.
Singh credited people-focused policies, technological innovation, and smallholder resilience for India’s success. He called for finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building support to help developing nations adopt sustainable livestock practices while retaining policy flexibility.
The minister detailed key Indian initiatives, including the Rashtriya Gokul Mission for indigenous breed conservation, the world’s largest livestock vaccination drive, a national digital ID for over 353 million animals, and a $3.5 billion infrastructure fund. He highlighted women’s central role in India’s dairy workforce, cooperative models behind the White Revolution, and India’s leadership in pandemic preparedness and antimicrobial resistance measures.
Reaffirming India’s 80-year partnership with FAO, Singh pledged to share scalable innovations with the Global South and support a Global Plan of Action that respects national priorities and capacities.
