While agriculture is the backbone of India's rural economy, livestock rearing is also a vital contributor. Many rural households own livestock, with even landless families possessing one or two cows or buffaloes. For the poorest, livestock is often the single sustained source of income.
However, in general milk yields are extremely low, a result of poor or inadequate nutrition and low genetic quality.
ITC's Integrated Animal Husbandry Programme provides an opportunity for farmers to diversify their livelihood portfolio extension services, including breed improvement through door-step artificial insemination and fodder propagation. The programme also trains dairy farmers in modern livestock development practices to increase their incomes by enhancing the milk yield of cattle.
The initiative is closely aligned to the 'National Livestock Mission (NLM)', which aims at quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems, and building the capacities of all stakeholders.
The programme has impacted 44,000 dairy farmers from 501 villages in 8 districts of Bihar and 2 districts of West Bengal. Each farmer was supported through training programmes on clean milk production, mastitis control and animal husbandry services.
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