Animal husbandry: Success and constraints

Unsurprisingly, India now leads the world in milk production. In fact, it replaced the US as the world's largest milk producer way back in 1998

Animal husbandry, rather than crop cultivation, is emerging as a reliable source of livelihood and income for farmers. One reason is the growing threat to crops from climate change-driven weather uncertainties and other hazards. Animal farming can hedge these risks to a significant extent. Besides, the demand for animal products, such as milk, meat, and eggs, is growing faster than plant-based foods, thanks to rising income and changing food habits. This has made livestock husbandry more lucrative than crop farming. The long-term growth trajectories of the crops and livestock sectors bear this out. While the average compound annual growth rate