India's Animal Husbandry Sector Gains Momentum as Central Banker Committee Meets for First Time

The first meeting of the Central Level Banker Coordination Committee for the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) was held on August 5, 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The meeting, chaired by Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of DAHD, brought together senior officials from DAHD, NABARD, SIDBI, NDDB, NCDC, and various lending banks. 

In her opening address, Upadhyaya praised the banking sector's significant role in advancing India's livestock industry. Highlighting India’s status as the top milk producer and a major player in egg, fish, meat, and poultry production, she underscored the importance of incorporating these protein-rich products into diets to combat food insecurity and malnutrition. She highlighted that banks can play a crucial role in achieving self-sufficiency, boosting exports, and enhancing processing capabilities through effective credit-linked schemes.

Additional Secretary (Cattle & Dairy) Varsha Joshi then took the floor, stressing the transformative potential of lending agencies in revolutionizing the animal husbandry sector. The meeting commenced with a welcome note from Joint Secretary (NLM) Dr. O. P. Chaudhary, who highlighted the livestock sector's economic importance, job creation, and livelihood support across India. Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries & Administration) Sagar Mehra also contributed with a presentation on how banks and financial institutions support various fisheries schemes.

Discussions delved into key DAHD initiatives, including the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), the National Livestock Mission-Entrepreneurship Development Programme (NLM-EDP), and the Kisan Credit Card (KCC). Participants reviewed achievements, guideline updates, portal usage, and pending issues, focusing on challenges such as limited financial access for small entrepreneurs, delays in project sanctioning, and issues with interest subvention claims. The meeting identified several opportunities to address these challenges and further develop the sector.

Overall, the event marked a significant step towards strengthening collaboration between the banking sector and animal husbandry, aiming to drive progress and support the sector’s growth.