NEW DELHI, 11 July 2025: In a major outreach effort to strengthen India’s livestock sector, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) on Friday conducted a Virtual Awareness Programme through Common Service Centres (CSCs), targeting livestock farmers across the Western and Southern States/UTs.
The programme, chaired by Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Panchayati Raj, witnessed participation from over 1 lakh livestock farmers at 2,000 digital locations spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and union territories including Puducherry, Goa, and Daman & Diu.
The Minister emphasised the programme’s role in delivering knowledge “from lab to land,” especially regarding breed improvement, disease control, sanitation, and advanced livestock practices. A key highlight was the reduced pricing of Sex-Sorted Semen (SSS), a breed improvement technology that increases the probability of female calves—thereby enhancing dairy productivity.
“By slashing the price of SSS, we’re making this powerful technology more accessible to even marginal farmers,” said Prof. Baghel.
Focus on Disease Control and Breed Improvement
Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, DAHD, stressed the importance of vaccinations and sanitation in preventing zoonotic diseases, which can transfer from animals to humans. “Awareness is the first step toward safeguarding livestock and public health,” she noted, urging farmers to implement key takeaways from the session in their daily practices.
The programme featured expert-led sessions and educational videos on breed enhancement using SSS, timely vaccination, and scientific livestock management.
Leveraging Digital Platforms for Grassroots Impact
This awareness initiative forms part of DAHD’s broader strategy to digitally engage livestock farmers, expand the reach of government schemes, and promote sustainable practices in the dairy and livestock sectors.
Officials highlighted the CSC model as an inclusive tool for rural outreach, enabling real-time interaction between policymakers and grassroots stakeholders.
