The Entrepreneurship Development Conclave 2025, themed "Empowering Entrepreneurs Transforming Livestock Economics," took place on January 13, 2025, at G.D. Madulkar Natya Griha in Pune. The event was inaugurated by Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, along with Minister of State S.P. Singh Baghel and George Kurien. Maharashtra’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Pankaja Munde, also attended the occasion.
During the conclave, the Union Minister launched 40 projects, with 20 projects each under the National Livestock Mission (NLM) and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF). The ministers visited exhibition stalls, interacted with entrepreneurs, and recognized top-performing states—Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu for AHIDF, and Karnataka, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh for the Entrepreneurship Programme. Banks like Canara Bank, State Bank of India, and HDFC Bank were also acknowledged for their credit support under these initiatives.
The ministers launched two compendiums showcasing success stories of AHIDF and NLM beneficiaries and launched the NLM Operational Guidelines 2.0, along with a Monitoring Dashboard for the NLM scheme.
They also declared January 14 to February 13 as "Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare Month," during which nationwide awareness campaigns and educational activities will be held.
In his speech, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh expressed appreciation for Maharashtra’s role in hosting the event and highlighted animal husbandry’s contribution to rural economic growth. He emphasized the need for FMD vaccination programs and the creation of FMD-free zones, including Maharashtra. He urged more participation in government entrepreneurship programs and called for simplified loan processes to support farmers and women entrepreneurs.
He also provided insights into the AHIDF and NLM schemes. The AHIDF, launched under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Package in 2020, has approved 362 projects worth Rs 10,356.90 crore, with Rs 247.69 crore in interest subventions. Meanwhile, the NLM-EDP scheme has approved 3,010 projects amounting to Rs 2,182.52 crore.
Pankaja Munde stressed the need for simplifying loan processes to support the growth of the sector. George Kurien highlighted Pune’s role as an educational hub and the job creation opportunities through these schemes. S.P. Singh Baghel emphasized the adoption of innovative animal husbandry techniques, accurate livestock census, and improved breeding practices.
The conclave featured two technical sessions discussing growth opportunities in the livestock sector and the role of banks and MSMEs in livestock credit facilitation.
