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Abstract: - 

Materials that occur in nature under different environmental conditions are termed Natural Resources. They are valuable in their natural (unmodified) form and their value is determined by the amount of material that can be extracted from them and the demand for the same. Natural Resources are extracted and purified as opposed to created. That is why mining, oil extraction, hunting, and fishing are considered activities around natural resources, while agriculture is not. 

Natural resources can be simply defined as materials that occur in nature under different environmental conditions. At present, only those resources found on the earth are included in the list. However, scientists are considering the prospect of obtaining natural resources present on asteroids. Natural resources are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified (natural) form. A natural resource’s value rests in the amount of the material available and the demand for it. The latter is determined by its usefulness to production. A commodity is generally considered a natural resource when the primary activities associated with it are extraction and purification, as opposed to creation. Thus, mining, petroleum extraction, fishing, hunting, and forestry are generally considered natural-resource industries, while agriculture is not.

Biotic Resources: - 

Resources that are obtained from the biosphere either in the raw form or through cultivation and have ORGANIC ORIGIN. Petroleum having an organic origin of the biotic resources. Most of them are non-renewable in nature. E.g. Fossil fuels, Agricultural products, Fruits, Wax, etc. 

Livestock resources of India: -  

The livestock sector includes animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries sector are considerable major sectors. It plays an important role in the national economy and in the socio-economic development of the country. It also plays an important role in the rural economy as supplementing family incomes and generating gainful employment in the rural sector, particularly among the landless laborers, small and marginal farmers and women.

Since India's independence (1947), it has experienced considerable economic growth and structural change; a trend accelerated by its structural reforms which began in “1991”. These changes are also reflected in trends in its livestock sector which have shown considerable growth in recent decades, especially since the late 1990s. There have also been major changes in the production of the Indian livestock sector. 

According to 17th censes of the livestock, their existing population is 485002. It is increasing day by day due to its importance as an alternative source of income and food also. The importance of livestock in India goes beyond the function of food production. It is an important source of draught power, manure for crop production, and fuel for domestic use. Thus, by minimizing the use of nonrenewable energy, livestock makes a positive contribution to economic development. The livestock sector is an important source of income for the farmers and rural poor peoples. The growth in the livestock subsector is expected to contribute to poverty alleviation, as the livestock elements are largely concentrated among the marginal and small farmers in rural areas.

Near about 70% of the livestock market in India is owned by 67% of small and marginal farmers and by the landless. 

Livestock is an important source of income for the rural poor also. This sector contributed an important share in the export of Indian international trade.

Recently the livestock subsector playing a very important role in poverty alleviation in rural areas. The livestock sector contributed over 5.26 percent to the total GDP during 2006-07. According to estimates of the Central Statistical Organization (CSO), the value of output from livestock and fisheries sectors together at current prices was about Rs.2,82,779 crore during 2007-08 which is about 31.6 percent of the value of the output of Rs.8,94,420 crore from agriculture & allied sector.

India is:

•   World’s highest livestock owner at about 535.78 million. 
•   First in the total buffalo population in the world - 109.85 million buffaloes. 
•   Second in the population of goats - 148.88 million goats. 
•   Second largest poultry market in the world. 
•   The second-largest producer of fish and second-largest aquaculture nation in the world. 
•   Third in the population of sheep (74.26 million). 
•   Fifth in the population of ducks and chicken (851.81 million). 
•   Tenth in camel population in the world - 2.5 lakhs. 

Source: 20th Livestock Census 

Importance of Livestock in India: - 

Contribution of livestock to people 

The livestock provides food and non-food items to the people.

•   Food: The livestock provides food items such as Milk, Meat, and Eggs for human consumption. India is the number one milk producer in the world. It is producing about 176.34 million tons of milk in a year (2017-18). Similarly, it is producing about 95.22 billion of eggs, 7.70 million tonnes of meat in a year. The value of the output of the livestock sector at current prices was Rs 9,17,910 crores at current prices during 2016-17 which is about 31.25% of the value of output from agricultural and allied sectors. At constant prices, the value of output from livestock was about 31.11% of the value of the output from total agriculture and allied sector. During the financial year 201718, the total fish production in India is estimated at 12.61 Million Metric tonnes. 

•   Fiber and skins: The livestock also contributes to the production of wool, hair, hides, and pelts. Leather is the most important product which has very high export potential. India is producing about 41.5 million Kg of wool per annum during 2017-18. 

•   Draft: Bullocks are the backbone of Indian agriculture. Despite a lot of advancements in the use of mechanical power in Indian agricultural operations, the Indian farmer, especially in rural areas, still, depend upon bullocks for various agricultural operations. The bullocks are saving a lot on fuel which is a necessary input for using mechanical power like tractors, combine harvesters, etc. Pack animals like camels, horses, donkeys, ponies, mules, etc are being extensively used to transport goods in different parts of the country in addition to bullocks. In situations like hilly terrains, mules and ponies serve as the only alternative to transport goods. Similarly, the army must depend upon these animals to transport various items in high areas of high altitude. 

•   Dung and other animal waste materials: Dung and other animal wastes serve as very good farmyard manure and the value of it is worth several crores of rupees. In addition, it is also used as fuel (biogas, dung cakes), and for construction as a poor man’s cement (dung). 

•   Storage: Livestock is considered as 'moving banks' because of their potentiality to dispose of during emergencies. They serve as capital and in cases of landless agricultural laborers many times it is the only capital resource they possess. Livestock serves as an asset and in case of emergencies, they serve as a guarantee for availing loans from the local sources such as money lenders in the villages. 

•   Weed control: Livestock is also used as Biological control of brush, plants, and weeds. 

•   Cultural: Livestock offers security to the owners and adds to their self-esteem especially when they are owning prized animals such as pedigreed bulls, dogs, and high yielding cows/ buffaloes, etc. 

•   Sports/recreation: People also use animals like cocks, rams, bulls, etc for competition and sports. Despite the ban on these animal competitions the cockfights, ram fights, and bullfights (jallikattu) are quite common during festive seasons. 

•   Companion animals: Dogs are known for their faithfulness and are being used as companions since time immemorial. When the nuclear families are increasing in number and the old parents are forced to lead solitary life the dogs, cats are providing the needed company to the latter thus making them lead a comfortable life. 

Role of livestock in farmers’ economy 

Livestock plays an important role in the economy of farmers. The farmers in India maintain a mixed farming system i.e. a combination of crop and livestock where the output of one enterprise becomes the input of another enterprise thereby realize the resource efficiency. The livestock serves the farmers in different ways.

•   Income: Livestock is a source of subsidiary income for many families in India especially the resource-poor who maintain few heads of animals. Cows and buffaloes if in milk will provide regular income to the livestock farmers through the sale of milk. Animals like sheep and goat serve as sources of income during emergencies to meet exigencies like marriages, treatment of sick persons, children's education, repair of houses, etc. The animals also serve as moving banks and assets which provide economic security to the owners. 

•   Employment: Many people in India being less literate and unskilled depend upon agriculture for their livelihoods. But agriculture being seasonal in nature could provide employment for a maximum of 180 days in a year. The landless and fewer land people depend upon livestock for utilizing their labor during the lean agricultural season. 

•   Food: The livestock products such as milk, meat, and eggs are an important source of animal protein to the members of the livestock owners. The per capita availability of milk is around 375 g / day; eggs are 74 / annum during 2017-18. 

•   Social security: The animals offer social security to the owners in terms of their status in society. The families especially the landless which own animals are better placed than those who do not. Gifting of animals during marriages is a very common phenomenon in different parts of the country. Rearing animals is a part of Indian culture. Animals are used for various socio-religious functions. Cows for house warming ceremonies; rams, bucks, and chicken for sacrifice during festive seasons;   Bulls and Cows are worshipped during various religious functions. Many owners develop an attachment to their animals. 

•   Draft: The bullocks are the backbone of Indian agriculture. The farmers especially the marginal and small depend upon bullocks for plowing, carting, and transport of both inputs and outputs. 

•   Dung: In rural areas dung is used for several purposes which include fuel (dung cakes), fertilizer (farmyard manure), and plastering material (poor man’s cement). 

Production of Milk 

India continues to be the largest producer of milk in the world and India produced 13.1 percent of the total milk produced in the world. Hence, India has attained the first rank in milk production in the world. At present, the first five countries in the world producing maximum milk are India, USA, Russia, Germany, and France. At the beginning production of milk was only 17 million tonnes (MT) in 1950-51 in India. Now it is increased to 108.5 million tonnes in 2008-09. World milk production is estimated at 693 million tonnes during 2007-08 and Indian milk production stands at 104.8 million tonnes. Despite a higher growth rate, the per capita availability of milk in India is 252 grams per day is lower than the world average of 265 grams per day.
This has not only placed the country on top of the world but also represents sustained growth in the availability of milk and milk products for the growing population of the country. Concentrated dairy products such as skimmed milk continue to be the largest item of export, which together accounts for nearly 78% of net milk and milk product exports during 2007-08.

Poultry and Egg 

Poultry is one of the fastest-growing segments of the agricultural sector in India today. Their growth rate has been rising at 8 to 10 percent per annum. As a result, India is now the world's fifth-largest egg producer and the eighteenth largest producer of broilers. Table eggs and broiler meat are the major end products of the poultry sector in India. The organized sector of the poultry industry is contributing nearly 70% of the total output and the rest 30% in the unorganized sector in India. The Andhra
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra producing nearly 70% of the country's egg production.
Presently production of eggs is estimated to number about 37 billion, that of broilers 895 million, and that of poultry meat 735,000 tonnes. Egg production has increased from 21 billion in 1990-91 to 51 billion numbers in 2006-07 and 53.5 billion numbers in 2008. India ranks fifth in the world with annual egg production of 1.61 million tonnes. Poultry exports are mostly to Maldives and Oman. Indian poultry meat products have good markets in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Fish Production 

India has about 8041 km of coastline and about 5.70 million ha of freshwater area suitable for fisheries production. Fishing, aquaculture, and allied activities are reported to have provided livelihood to over 14 million persons in 2006-07. In 2001 overall fish production was 5666 thousand tonnes it gradually increasing continuously. At present, India's total fish production is about 76.21 thousand tonnes.
This sector has great potential to export their fish and fish product also. Since 1991, the overall export of fish is raised at a considerable rate. According to the data provided by the ministry of agriculture and commerce of India, their export of fish and fish products increased from the last ten years. In 1991 India has exported 140 thousand tonnes of fish and fish products but till it reached to 541 thousand tonnes its money value is Rs. 7621 crores in 2008.

Meat and Meat Products 

The meat products industry in India is largely in the unorganized sector. With rapid urbanization, higher income levels, and changes in lifestyle, the market for scientifically produced and hygienically packed meat and meat products is expanding rapidly. Today, the increasing demand for meat and meat products in the domestic and foreign markets, particularly to the Gulf and West Asia and neighboring countries. In 2003 India had a livestock population of 470 million that included 205 million cattle and 90 million buffaloes. Cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats, pigs, and poultry are the types of animals, which are generally used for the production of meat.
There is a huge scope for expanding exports, especially in buffalo and poultry meat, eggs, and dairy products. The Slaughter rate for cattle is 20%, for buffaloes, it is 41%, pigs 99%, sheep 30%, and 40% for goats. The country has 3,600 slaughterhouses, 9 modern abattoirs, and 171 meat-processing units licensed under the meat products order. The production of meat has increased to 1.9 million tonnes to 23 million tonnes from 2001 to 2007.

In the meat and meat processing sector, poultry meat is the fastest-growing animal protein in India. The estimated production of meat was 6.5 million tonnes during 2007-08. Per capita consumption increased from 870 grams in 2000 and expected to reach 2 Kg during 2009. According to APEDA, the export of buffalo meat was increased from 343817.08 tonnes (value Rs 1536.77crore) in 2003-04, to 483478 tonnes (Rs.3549.70 crore) in 2007-08. The export of sheep/goat meat is increased from 16820.53 tonnes (Rs 110.39 crore) in 2003-04 to 8908 tonnes (Rs.134.09 crore) in 2007-08. The processed meat export was 986.13 tonnes (Rs 7.63 crore) in 2003-04 and now it is 1245 tonnes (value Rs 12.96 crore). The export of poultry products was 415228.17 tonnes (Rs 202.40 crore) in 2003-04 it is also increased near about 1355246 tonnes (Rs 401.08 crore) in 2007-08.

Benefits of Livestock Sector Developments in India: - 

Animal Husbandry sector provides large self-employment opportunities. Presuming that one family member is employed in looking after the livestock, 25 million people are estimated to be employed with the livestock rearing activity. This sector is playing a very important role in the rural economy as a support sector of the economy. Especially 70 million rural households primarily, small and marginal farmers and landless laborers in the country are getting employment opportunities in dairy. Dairying has become an important secondary source of income for millions of rural families.

Poultry is also another way of getting food and food security in India. Apart from food security it has provides employment to about 1.5 million people. Livestock Sector not only provides essential protein and nutritious human diet through milk, eggs, meat, etc but also plays an important role in the utilization of non-edible agricultural by-products. Livestock also provides raw material/by-products such as hides and skins, blood, bone, fat, etc.
This provides subsidiary occupation to a large section of the society particularly to the people living in the drought-prone, hilly, tribal, and other remote areas where crop production on its own may not be capable of engaging them fully. In the adverse climatic conditions and national calamities like drought, flood, etc., animal husbandry practices shall be proved to be boon for sustaining the livelihood of the landless and marginal farmers in the state.

Challenges to the livestock industry in India: - 

• The land is only a common resource acting as the platform for the development of humans and animals. Ever-increasing competition between humans and animals for food is a critical challenge in animal rearing. 

• The improper and unscientific management of resources like water in animal husbandry makes the increased usage of virtual water in the export market. 

• The percolation of extension services regarding animal husbandry is less and negligent  The low production potential of the indigenous verities of animals is also an added issue.

• Devastating pastures, increased climatic changes, decrease in monsoon rains also makes the animal husbandry vulnerable.

• Improper awareness about the vaccination and lack of research in the diseases occurring to animals is also another factor. 

• Lack of infrastructure facilities in rural areas like veterinary clinics, breeding centers.

• The absence of credit facilities and insurance coverage schemes makes the farmers show less interest in animal rearing. 

• The proper quality checking and standardization of animal products is absent. 

Conclusion: - 

The Indian livestock industry makes up for a significant amount of the world’s livestock resources. Both the national economy as well as the socio-economic growth of the country is backed by the livestock sector. Besides, offering great potential and outstanding contribution to the agricultural sector over the past years. The livestock sector is performing well in the manner of production, value addition, and export of dairy, fishery, wool, poultry, and other products. Apart from its performance, there are some threats that also exist we need to re-correct it and take the global market opportunities.

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