Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh addressed the 2nd Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation at Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. At the High-level Ministerial session, Shri Singh highlighted India's farmer centric initiatives , Innovations and transformations that are driving inclusive growth in livestock and  dairy sector in the country.

Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, addressed the 2nd Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation at FAO Rome. He shared India’s transformative journey in livestock under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri… pic.twitter.com/bjAsuJJvTH

— Dept of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Min of FAH&D (@Dept_of_AHD) September 29, 2025

While conveying India’s deep appreciation to FAO and its Director-General Dr. QU Dongyu for inviting India to share its experiences and best practices, he expressed pride in India’s role as the First Vice Chair of the Sub-Committee on Livestock established under FAO. Shri Singh stated  "Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has undertaken a series of transformative and inclusive initiatives to ensure food security, improve nutritional outcomes, strengthen livelihoods, and eradicate poverty." Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh noted that since COVID-19, India’s welfare measures have lifted 269 million people out of extreme poverty, reducing it from 27.1% to 5.3%, as per the 2025 World Bank Report. He underlined the central role of the livestock sector in providing sustainable livelihoods to nearly two-thirds of rural households and millions of small and marginal farmers, many of them being women. He said that the livestock sector has recorded an impressive CAGR of 12.77% in recent years that contributes 31% to agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) and 5.5% to the national economy. Shri Singh highlighted that India is today the world’s largest producer of milk, accounting for nearly 25% of global output with an annual production of 239 million tonnes. India is also the second-largest producer of eggs and a leading exporter of buffalo meat.

While addressing the gathering, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh credited India’s livestock progress to people-centric policies, global cooperation, and the resilience of smallholder farmers. He reaffirmed India’s 80-year partnership with FAO and commitment to share scalable innovations with the Global South. Stressing that the Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation must remain a guiding framework and not become a prescriptive model. He stressed that it must allow space for national priorities, capacities, and circumstances of the developing countries. He called for finance, technology transfer, and capacity building to support a phased transition. Reaffirming India’s vision, the Union Minister resolved to make the sector more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.

Key initiatives undertaken by India in the Livestock Sector as highlighted by Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh at FAO, Rome :

• Through the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, India is conserving indigenous cattle breeds and improving genetic diversity. Over 92 million animals have benefited, supporting more than 56 million farmers.
• India implements the world’s largest livestock vaccination programme, administering over 1.2 billion doses annually to combat major diseases.  India is also a global hub for high-quality vaccine production and exports.
• Through the National Digital Livestock Mission – Bharat Pashudhan, India has created a digital ID system to enable traceability, early disease detection, and ensure safety of animal products. To date, over 353 million animals and 94 million livestock owners have been registered.
• India’s USD 3.5 billion Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund supports investments in dairy, breeding, feed plants, and meat processing.
• At the grassroots level, India has  trained local resource persons through the MAITRIs programme to deliver breeding services even in remote areas. Through A-HELP, India is empowering rural women to contribute meaningfully to animal health delivery, reinforcing the role of women in livestock development.
• India strongly supports the One Health approach, recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. India calls for predictable, stable funding for transboundary animal disease programs, including through the FAO’s regular budget.
• India has backed the Resolution on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in agrifood systems and is implementing a National Action Plan aligned with the Global Action Plan.
• To strengthen pandemic preparedness, India has secured a USD 25 million grant from the G20 Pandemic Fund to boost animal health security systems. This effort is supported by partnerships with the FAO, ADB, and the World Bank.
• India is also deeply committed to women-led development. Over 70% of India’s dairy workforce are women. He stated that “White Revolution” is a testament to their leadership, enabled by cooperative models that have transformed rural livelihoods.
• India and Ireland jointly co-sponsored the resolution for the International Day of Milk, endorsed by the 44th FAO Conference and  looking forward to its consideration by the United Nations General Assembly.

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Aditi Agrawal

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