Livestock in India's Rural Economy

Why cows, buffaloes, goats, poultry and fish matter so much to rural Indian households, especially small farmers, the landless and women.

When people think of Indian agriculture, they often picture crops. But livestock and fisheries are a huge and growing part of the rural economy.

Scale

India has one of the world’s largest livestock populations. The 20th Livestock Census in 2019 counted over 535 million livestock, including cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep and pigs, plus hundreds of millions of poultry birds.
India is the world’s largest milk producer, and among the largest producers of eggs and fish.
Livestock and fisheries make up a rising share of agricultural output, and have grown faster than crop farming for many years.

Why livestock matters to households

Regular income: milk sold daily provides steady cash, unlike crops that pay once or twice a year.
Insurance: animals can be sold in emergencies, acting like savings.
Landless families: many livestock owners have little or no land. Goats and poultry need little space.
Women: women do much of the work of caring for animals and milking, and livestock income can strengthen their economic position.
Farm inputs: dung provides fertiliser and fuel; bullocks still plough some fields.

Reducing risk

Crop farming depends heavily on the monsoon. Livestock income is more stable, so households with animals are better able to handle droughts and crop failures.

Government support

The government’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Department of Fisheries run programmes for breeding, animal health, feed and infrastructure. Credit through Kisan Credit Cards has been extended to livestock and fish farmers.

Challenges

Low productivity per animal compared with many countries.
Feed and fodder shortages.
Animal diseases.
Market access, especially for remote farmers.

The daily milk cheque

A family in rural Rajasthan grows millet on a small plot that fails in dry years. But their two buffaloes produce milk sold every morning to a cooperative. Even in drought years, the milk money pays for groceries and school fees.

Thinking Indian agriculture is only about crops

Livestock and fisheries provide a large and growing share of farm income, especially for small and landless households.

Key takeaways

India has over 535 million livestock and is the world's largest milk producer.
Livestock gives regular income and works like savings.
It matters especially for landless families and women.
Low productivity, feed shortages and disease are key challenges.