Livestock

The sector of Kerala is now showing a declining trend in respect of livestock population and livestock products. This sub sector which flourished well during the last three five year plans, showed signs of declining during the X plan period. Compared to 1996 livestock census, the census conducted during 2000 and 2003 showed drastic reduction in different categories of livestock. Estimates of milk and egg production reveals a declining trend in milk production after 2001-02 and in egg production after 1999-00 and during 2006-07, production of both the products showed a slight increase.

Eventhough the demand for the animal products increased drastically, there exists a wide gap between the requirement and production of animal products. A comprehensive strategy needs to be put in place to augment production of all major livestock products in the state with appropriate linkage with plans of the local governments. Block level credit plans are also to be prepared realistically by incorporating these concerns since credit absorption potential is projected to be high in the animal husbandry sub sector.

With a view to enhance the availability of milk and egg, it is proposed to launch a new programme during Eleventh Plan as part of Flagship Project. The aim is to enhance milk production by 70% from 2005-06 level and doubling of egg production.

The total milk production of the State is showing a declining trend from 27.18 lakh tonnes in 2001-02 to 20.63 lakh tonnes during 2005-06 and increased to 21.18 lakh tonnes during 2006-07.

Requirement and production of Livestock Products in Kerala 2006-07

Year
Milk (Lakh MT)
Egg (Million Nos.)
Meat (’000 MT )
Requirement
Production
Requirement
Production
Requirement
Production*
2002
23.65
24.20
4217
1347
253
177.74
2003
23.87
21.11
4258
1277
256
188.22
2004
24.16
20.25
4314
1197
257
195.27
2005
24.38
20.63
4341
1196
261
195.37
2006
24.53
21.18
4362
1199
262
196.17

Source: Animal Husbandry Department
*including unauthorised sector * Anticipated Requirement estimated based on projected population figures

Percentage Distribution of Main Workers in Kerala (1991and 2001)

Item
1991
2001
Cultivators
12.24
7.20
Agricultural labourers
25.55
16.07
Household industry workers
2.58
3.54
Livestock, Forestry, Fishing, Plantation, Mining, Quarrying and allied sectors
10.23
73.19
Other workers
49.40

Source: Census Reports

At the same time over the period, at national level the milk production has been continuously increasing. Kerala’s contribution to national milk production which stagnated around 3.2 per cent during 1993-94 to 2001-02 declined to 2.1 per cent during 2005-06 and remains at the same level during 2006-07. The gap between the production and requirement of egg is widening at an alarming rate. Meat production alone is increasing over the years to keep in pace with the demand.

Cattle Population

Kerala’s cattle population which accounted for 1.75% of the total cattle population in the country during 1987 declined to 1.61 % by 1996 and 1.13 % by 2003 . The cross bred cattle population which stood at 12.26 lakhs and 68% as per 1996 Census decreased to 7.73 lakh Nos and in percentage terms increased to 83% by 2003. This increase in proportion of cross bred population was made possible by expanded health care facilities and AI services available in the State . So far out of 3050 artificial insemination centres, 2469 centres were established by the Animal Husbandry Department, 10 by Dairy Development department and 571 by other agencies.

Of the total cattle population, Palakkad district accounts for 12.4 per cent (highest) and Wayanad for 4.89 per cent (lowest). Higher number of buffaloes is concentrated in Malappuram (19%), goat in Thiruvananthapuram (12%) and pig in Idukki (30%). Regarding poultry Malappuram accounts for 13 per cent of fowls, Alappuzha for 38 per cent of ducks.

As per the provisional figures of 2003 livestock census, India has 187.38 million cattle, which are about 14 per cent of the world cattle population. Out of the 187.38 million cattle, 22.63 million were crossbred, which is 12.07 per cent of the total cattle population. Between 1997 and 2003, crossbred population increased by 12.6 per cent. The states of Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab account for about 60 per cent of the crossbred cattle population. The country has 96.62 million buffalo population, which is about 56.5 per cent of the world buffalo population. Between 1997 and 2003, the buffalo population increased by 7.5 per cent. In spite of India’s position as highest producer of milk, productivity per animal is very poor. It is only 987 Kgs/lactation as compared to the world average of 2038 Kgs/lactation. This is mainly due to poor level of nutrition as well as low genetic potential for milk production and health care.

Poultry Farming

The per capita availability of egg based on production during 2003-04 is only 39/ year and from 2004--05 to 2006-07, it further declined to 36/year. The per capita consumption of egg during 2006-07 is 66/year. The gap is filled by importing eggs from neighbouring State. The decline in poultry population and hike in cost of feed were the major reason for the decline in production.

The average annual growth rates of milk and egg production in Kerala and India for the period from 1950-51 to 2006-07 are given below.

Average Annual Growth Rate of Milk and Egg Production (Per cent)

Sl. No:
Year
Milk
Egg
Kerala
India
Kerala
India
1
1950-51 to 1960-61
2.50
1.64
NA
4.63
2
1960-61 to 1970-71
2.52
1.15
NA
7.91
3
1970-71 to 1980-81
12.52
4.51
NA
3.79
4
1980-81 to 1990-91
6.41
5.50
4.89
7.70
5
1990-91 to 2000-01
4.24
4.16
2.75
4.59
6
1997-98 to 2001-02
3.78
4.32
-0.22
7.09
7
2001-02 to 2006-07
- 4.86
3.64
-9.75
5.52

Milk Marketing

In Kerala, where the production of milk is concentrated in the small farm sector and ultimate supply is dependent on seasonal factors, maintaining uninterrupted supply particularly during lean period is very difficult. The Federation is thus forced to import milk from the neighbouring states during lean periods when the internal supplies used to shrink. Presently the milk was imported from AAVIN and KMF. The total import during 2005-06 was 500 lakh litres against 625 lakh litres during 2004-05.

The procurement of milk by KCMMF stood at 2218, 2508 and 2788 lakh litres respectively against the sale of 2889, 3047 and 3270 lakh litres during 2004, 2005 and 2006. During 2007, procurement and sale of milk by KCMMF stood at 1698 and 2297 lakh litres respectively as on Aug. 2007. During the previous year, procurement during the same period stood at 1829 and sale stood at 2177 lakh litres showing a widening gap between procurement and supply during 2007. Data on procurement and sale of milk by different dairies of KCMMF during 2003 to 2007 is given below.

Performance of the Dairies under Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (2003 to 2007)

Dairy
Capacity lakh ltr./day
Procurement (Lakh Ltrs)
Sales (Lakh Ltrs)
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007*
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007*
Thiruvan-anthapuram
2.00
356.54
371.04
377.04
408.37
256.11
551.31
595.07
640.79
692.14
473.83
Kollam
1.00
281.83
209.49
253.62
296.13
147.11
407.19
432.22
474.72
524.65
344.53
Alappuzha
0.60
68.33
61.81
74.95
83.28
50.92
206.15
226.93
245.37
261.64
156.72
Kottayam
0.40
67.38
79.98
102.41
118.93
64.11
124.22
136.70
151.72
166.98
108.22
Ernakulam
1.50
353.34
413.43
517.55
582.55
352.39
401.10
452.13
506.38
565.73
392.31
Thrissur
0.60
137.69
109.90
93.18
103.53
65.16
122.15
120.50
121.86
132.99
95.85
Palakkad
1.00
331.80
386.99
396.1
397.13
243.87
165.00
237.35
193.60
214.03
168.19
Kannur
1.00
343.66
384.94
446.33
503.45
322.2
238.85
254.75
271.96
292.93
214.81
Kozhikode
1.50
156.40
170.81
201.82
238.54
151.98
331.81
325.32
330.07
362.86
257.94
Kasaragod
0.30
23.61
29.77
45.43
55.93
44.64
102.71
107.53
110.53
55.93
84.61
Total
9.90
2120.58
2218.16
2508.43
2787.84
1698.49
2650.49
2888.50
3047.00
3269.88
2297.01

In Kerala there are 3322 dairy co-operatives including 2500 Anand pattern societies (as on August 2007) functioning under KCMMF. Besides the societies functioning under the Co-operative Sector, 4 Societies viz., Malanadu, Nirmalgram, PDDP, Perambra and PDDP, Kalady are working under Charitable Institutions. As per MMPO order 1992 ten private dairies handling 64000 MT/annum were registered in the State.

MILMA represents more than 7.77 lakh dairy farmers who have organised 2500 Anand Pattern Cooperative Societies (as on Aug 2007). It has helped in ensuring better returns to the dairy farmers. It also represents10 dairies handling 9.90lakh litres of milk/day, 14 chilling plants, two cattle feed plants, a milk powder plant, an established training centre and 5000 distribution outlets. Of the total 2723 APCOs registered, only 2500 are functional. The average milk procured per day by APCOs during the year 2006 was 9.05 lakh litres against the previous year average of 8.4 lakh litres. As on August 2007 the average procurement is 9.05 lakh litres/day. The procurement /day/society is 378 litres during 2006 and as on August 2007, it is 362 litres/day. Over a period of last 7 years the highest average procurement /day is during 2006.

National Scenario

India is at present on the path of economic transformation and India's economic development would sustain the increasing trend of urbanisation and income growth in the future. Urbanisation and income growth had positive influence on the consumption of livestock products viz., milk, egg and meat. The consumption growth rates of these commodities are very high in the last 2-3 decades and the same will be the trend in the nearest future. This will help not only to maintain nutritional security of the people but will help to increase income growth of the rural poor.

The value of output from livestock sector to Indian economy during 2001-02 at current price was about Rs.1470.07 billion which increased to Rs.1851.66 billion during 2005-06 ie., an increase of 25.8 percent over four years showing a compound growth rate of 5.2%. But, the major contributor is the milk group and during the period the per centage share staggered around 67 per cent compared to a share of 68.29 per cent during 2001-02, the base year of 10th five year plan. During 2001-02 the contribution of meat was 14.43 per cent which declined to 13.82 per cent during 2005-06.

Value of Output from Livestock sector (All India) (2001-02 to 2005-06)

(At current prices in Rs. Billions)

Item *
2001-02
% share
2002-03
% share
2003-04
% share
2004-05
% share
2005-06
% share
Milk Group
1004.54
68.29
1043.47
67.74
1104.47
67.79
1159.31
67.87
1245.20
67.25
Meat Group
249.83
16.98
265.47
17.23
273.37
16.78
281.23
16.46
300.51
16.23
Meat
212.31
14.43
225.71
14.65
232.23
14.25
239.44
14.02
255.88
13.82
Beef
22.92
1.56
25.10
1.63
26.30
1.61
28.22
1.65
35.99
1.94
Mutton
78.99
5.37
87.89
5.71
91.79
5.63
85.94
5.03
92.47
4.99
Poultry Meat
98.53
6.70
98.42
6.39
100.10
6.14
110.25
6.45
110.17
5.95
Meat Products
8.41
0.57
9.05
0.59
9.51
0.58
9.39
0.55
11.25
0.61
Eggs
48.79
3.32
50.49
3.28
50.86
3.12
55.70
3.39
57.91
3.13
Dung
107.90
7.34
120.21
7.80
128.68
7.90
136.58
8.00
158.03
8.53
Total
1470.97
100
1540.56
100
1629.21
100
1708.12
100
1851.66
100

Source: Central Statistical Organisation, GOI * only details of Major items are included
Dairy industry in India has made significant progress from 8th plan onwards. India continues to be largest producer of milk in the world with a total production of 97.1 million tonnes in 2005-06 and the per capita availability of milk stood at 241gm/day.

Dairy Development

Dairy industry in India has made significant progress from 8th plan onwards. India continues to be largest producer of milk in the world with a total production of 97.1 million tonnes in 2005-06 and the per capita availability of milk stood at 241gm/day.

Though the per capita availability of milk is low compared to world average and substantial increase in this regard was attained over a period of 10years, from 195gm/day to 241 gm/day. This increase together with attainment of near self sufficiency in milk and milk products has been achieved mainly on account of the tremendous amount of marketing support and technical inputs provided and the infrastructure developed in the country through the network cooperatives. More than 50 per cent of the milk in the country is produced by small and marginal farmers and landless labourers, producing about one to three litres of milk per day.

Among the major states in India, there are significant interstate differences in the productivity of cows and buffaloes. As per the available estimates milk yield/day of exotic cows were highest in Punjab(8.431 Kg), followed by Gujarat (8.057kg) Kerala(7.508 kg) and Andhra Pradesh (7.385kg). At the same time the yield/day of exotic breeds in Karanataka is 6.312kg and Tamil Nadu is only 5.890kg. Among these states highest yield of non descript cow is of Gujarat (3.401kg) followed by Tamil Nadu(2.762kg), Kerala (2.629 kg), Punjab (2.505kg), Karnataka (2.240kg) and Andhrapradesh (1.813kg). The average yield/day of buffaloes is highest in Punjab (7.425 kg) followed by Kerala (6.242 kg), Tamil Nadu (4.222 kg) and Karnataka (2.481 kg). In general the milk yield of both cows and buffaloes were lowest in Assam.