Climate Change and Policy Interventions for Livestock Sector

Abstract

In India, almost 85 % of our population resides in rural areas and the same proportion is dependent on agriculture for sustenance and animal husbandry for additional income. Distribution of livestock is more equitable compared to that of land and about 85 percent of livestock are owned by the landless, marginal and small landholding families. This sector provides employment for the farmers through livestock farming as well as in processing, value addition and marketing of livestock products. The climate change action plan of India was formulated during the year 2008, which is now obsolete. Policy integration, institutional design for effective implementation, and climate justice must play a central role. Livestock sector being a State subject, each State should have a suitable policy framework along with enhanced investment in developmental schemes/ programs in livestock sector for mitigating and adapting the possible climate change effect are critical to protect livestock production.