Day 44 – Q 5.Would you consider livestock as a financial asset for a farmer? Substantiate by explaining the rural economics of livestock wealth.
5. Would you consider livestock as a financial asset for a farmer? Substantiate by explaining the rural economics of livestock wealth.
क्या आप पशुधन को एक किसान के लिए वित्तीय संपत्ति मानेंगे? पशुधन संपत्ति की ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था को समझाकर पुष्टि करें।
INTRODUCTION
Livestock are domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce labor and commodities such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to those that are bred for consumption, while other times it refers only to farmed ruminants, such as cattle and goats. It helps to augment farmer’s income, to help to strengthen rural economy and also it can help us to deal with farm distress.
BODY
Livestock has always had the pivotal role in Indian economy or even Indian social system to that matter. Livestock is the age old system in Indian tradition from religious point of view as well as because of the reason that it generates alternative income, it indicates social status, it promotes women empowerment by giving them employment opportunities, it is cheap protein source, it acts as a cultural link, also to promote local sports.
Livestock has proved to be a great financial asset to farmers due to the following reasons-
- It employs almost 16% of Agricultural laborer and provides almost 40% of Agricultural GDP.
- Provides financial security to farmers by selling cattle in times of need.
- It provides milk and meat, thus ensuring food security.
- It is a good source of protein, thus ensuring health of poor.
- It acts like a buffer in times of crop failure- ensuring continuous income for the farmers.
- It helps to aid Rural women who are depending on livestock for economic survival – by selling milk
- Livestock is important in times of Kambala festival in Karnataka, Jallikatu in Tamil Nadu- thus acting as a cultural link for people.
However, in spite of these positives- Livestock development in India have large number of negatives as well like –
- Poor Quality breeds.
- Low productivity of dairy- which could be improved by using scientific method.
- Low shelf life of material-
- There is a huge deficit of good quality fodder.
- Spread of disease among the cattle.
Thus, livestock being a huge resource it needs to be taken good care of and improve the potential to augment the rural economy, in this respect government has carried out the following schemes-
- Gokul mission – to protect endemic species.
- Approval of National Livestock Policy for better quality of food, breed and utilization of livestock.
- “Blue Revolution” was carried out to improve fisheries.
- Research into new breeds is promoted.
CONCLUSION
Thus, livestock being one of the most important resource should be preserved and promoted to a great extent, to augment the strength of the rural economy
BEST ANSWER: GOG
