Context

According to information by a Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) regarding zero insurance coverage of livestock in 2022-23, Centre is considering a comprehensive livestock insurance scheme modelling the Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana.

The Livestock Numbers:

India has rich Livestock resources which can be seen in following manner:

• 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
• Second largest producer of fish and also second largest aquaculture nation in the world
• Third in the population of sheep (74.26 millions)
• Fifth in in the population of ducks and chicken (851.81 million)
• Tenth in camel population in the world - 2.5 lakhs

Findings of the Parliamentary panel:

• At present, less than 1% of the country’s cattle population is insured and the average yearly premium is 4.5% of the insured amount.
• The report also highlighted that not even a single livestock was insured during 2022-23, whereas during 2021-22, 1, 74,061 animals were insured.
• The Committee asked Department of Animal Husbandry to explore the possibility of developing an App-based Livestock Insurance facility for livestock owners.
• Committee noted that high policy premium rate and general economic conditions of farmers are reasons for lower enrolment in such schemes.

About Livestock Insurance scheme:

• The Livestock Insurance Scheme, a centrally sponsored scheme was implemented on a pilot basis during 2005-06 and 2006-07.
• The scheme was later implemented on a regular basis from 2008-09 in 100 newly selected districts of the country.
• The scheme was later subsumed under the Sub-mission on ‘Innovation and Extension: on livestock development of National Livestock Mission’.
• Coverage: The scheme is implemented in all the districts of the Country from 21.05.2014.
• Animals covered:
• The indigenous / crossbred milch animals, pack animals (Horses, Donkey, Mules, Camels, Ponies and Cattle/Buffalo Male), and Other Livestock (Goat, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbit, Yak and Mithun etc.) are covered under the purview of this component.
  
  

Other related Initiatives:

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): To undertake breed improvement programme for indigenous breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock.
• E-Pashu Haat Portal: This portal is for connecting breeders and farmers regarding availability of quality bovine germplasm.
• National Animal Disease Control Programme:It has been launched for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis with a total outlay of Rs.13, 343 crore to ensure 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population.
• National Livestock Mission: IT is for intensive development of livestock, especially small livestock along with adequate availability of quality feed and fodder.
• LivestockHealth & Disease Control Scheme: Assistance is provided for prevention and control of animal diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) etc.
• Disease Protection of Livestock: For livestock protection, the diagnostic kits against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Bluetongue (BT) diseases and Subviral Particle based Infectious Bursal Disease Vaccine were developed.