Social policies may deal body blow to livestock farming: Economic Survey II

Survey dwells on farm distress, loan waivers, calls for assured irrigation, use of GM seeds

In an apparent reference to controversies surrounding the ban on cattle trading for slaughter, the Economic Survey volume-2 today said  that if social policies drive down the terminal value of livestock it could make its farming unprofitable for farmers.

In a rather hard-hitting comment on the issues surrounding the ban on cattle trade for slaughter, Survey also said that it is possible that social policies could affect social returns even more adversely. 

The survey which talks at length about the distress in the country’s agricultural sector said that it can be addressed in multiple ways by reducing production risks through