Livestock and Poultry

The main objectives of the State Animal Resources Development Department are two folds (a) to provide health coverage to all domesticated animals, both for curative and prophylaxis and (b) to take up livestock development activities for increasing the productivity of livestock, for the benefit of both producers as well as Consumers.

Animal Husbandry plays a vital role in determining the agricultural economy in the State. In Tripura, 60 percent of the geographical area is high land and only about 27 percent in available for cultivation. Animal Husbandry is an important and integral part of agricultural system and considered as one of the major activities for providing subsidiary income including non harvesting season to the farming families of the State. Production from the domesticated animals and poultry, like milk, meat and eggs has become subsidiary occupation of the farmers in the State.

The main objectives of the Department of Animal Resources in the State are two fold, (a) to provide health coverage to all the domestic animal, both for contagious and non-contagious disease and (b) to take up livestock development activities for increasing the productivity of livestock, for the benefit of both producers as well as consumers.

Food security has been given the top priority in the State for its people. Food grains alone cannot meet the nutritional requirement of human being for their growth, maintenance and health. For proper nutrition, a balanced diet containing all essential nutrients i.e. carbohydrate, protein and fat in the ratio of 4:1:1 is needed. In case of protein, 50 percent of total requirement should come from animal origin food.

Tripura is deficient food of animal origin and a wide gap exists between demand and supply of these feed items. To bridge the gap between demand and supply and to make the state self sufficient within a definite time frame State Govt. had launched a 10 years perspective plan (2002-03 to 2011-12) w.e.f. 1st April, 2002.

During the first two years of perspective plan necessary infrastructure development at State Government breeding farms and introduction of village friendly layer chicks, imported variety of pigs from USA. etc have been made with a view to bring about increased production of milk, meat and egg.

Subsequently, the Government sector will produce and supply requisite number of A.H. inputs as seed materials and the actual production process will be made at private sector through strengthening of house hold production and entrepreneurship development through organized farming. Accordingly special emphasis has been given over SHG approach, delivery of one month old chicks and duckling in lieu of day old, organization of medium/small scale dairy farms in all blocks of the state and massive cultivation of fodder in farmer's land. Emphasis has also given on large scale goat farming by involving weakers section of the society especially the woman, to fulfill the high demand of goat meat.

Perspective Plan:

The State Animal Resource Development Department is implementing 10-year Perspective Plan for 2002-12 for marching towards attainment of self-sufficiency in. animal origin food i.e., milk, meat and egg. With a view to further improvement, the performance in these three sectors, the Perspective Plan was revised for the first time after two years in 2004-05. Mid-term appraisal was undertaken during 2007-08 after implementation of five years of the Perspective Plan, wherein the experience of past five years was considered and targets for production on milk, meat and egg were further revised.

Based on the progress made so far in milk, meat and egg sectors, the targets fixed after mid-term appraisal was revisited on 8th December, 2009 and a decision was taken to revise the targets for reducing the gap between state availability to that of national average in milk sector. In meat and egg sectors were the achievement is nearer to national average, it was decided to revise the targets to a higher level keeping the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommendations as the ultimate goal of achievement.

Trend of production of milk, meat and egg during nine years of implementation of perspective plan:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

Moreover, during perspective plan period, it has also been planned to provide full time gainful employment to unemployed youths on different animal husbandry based farming / practices after necessary training for skill up gradation.

Year wise targets and achievements during “Perspective Plan’ period:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

Livestock population:

Livestock Census, 2003 and  2007:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

Veterinary services and animal health:

Out of 510 animal health institutions, there were 15- veterinary hospitals, 58-veterinary dispensaries, 426-veterinary sub-centers and 11 artificial insemination centers. The aim of these institutions is to provide adequate health coverage to the livestock, castration of bulls and kids vaccination of animals for prevention of contagious diseases. Necessary medicines were supplied free of cost during 2009-10.

Detail animal health institutions of the State Government in 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

State wise animal health coverage run veterinary institutions during 2010-11:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

The department also conducts Integrated Sample Survey season wise for the estimation of production of the major livestock products viz., milk, meat and egg in the State, besides conducting livestock census quinquennialy.

Estimated production of milk and eggs as per integrated sample survey work by district for the year 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

The Estimated meat production in Tripura for 2009-10:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

Diary development:

The State Government has given more emphasis on Dairy Development through Co-operative system for production of milk as well as marketing. Milk Producers are encouraged to strengthen their activities by forming Co-operative Societies. Department was handed over the" Agartala dairy, Indranagar along with all its properties and responsibilities to Tripura Milk Producers Union Ltd. in 1983-84.

There One 2 thousand liltres Capacity bulk Milk Cooling station was established and made functional at Melagarh in January 2007 with the active help of State Animal Resources Development Department.

Department is also extends various assistance to TCMPUL time to time under centrally sponsored scheme IDDP -I & II for developing infrastructure as well as organizing more co-operative societies to encourage the milk producers for more milk production through assured marketing.

The TCMPUL is also responsible for maintaining the milk supply of Agartala town. Apart from these TCMPUL has also undertaken for marketing of milk products like chana, paneer, ghee, sweet curd and ice-cream. Production of balanced feed and marketing is also being done by the TCMPUL.

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11