Pashu Aushadhi Kendras under LHDCP

• 12 Mar 2025

For Prelims: Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras, Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis, National Animal Disease Control Programme 

For Mains: Government initiatives to enhance livestock health and productivity, Affordable veterinary care 

Source: IE 

Why in News?  

The government of India will launch Pashu Aushadhi Kendras under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) to provide affordable veterinary medicines to people engaged in animal husbandry and dairying. 

What are Pashu Aushadhi Kendras? 

• About: Pashu Aushadhi Kendras, modeled after Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs), provide “generic medicines” veterinary medicines to improve livestock health and reduce farmers' expenses. 
  • Pashu Aushadhi Kendras will also sell ethnoveterinary medicines, which are based on traditional Indian knowledge and indigenous practices. 
  • Pashu Aushadhi initiative introduced under the LHDCP, has a Rs 75 crore allocation for veterinary medicines and sales incentives. 
• Operation Model: These stores will be run by cooperative societies and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs). 
  • PMKSKs are one-stop-shops for farmers for multiple products such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. 
• Aim: Prevent and treat livestock diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) (also known as sheep and goat plague), Classical Swine Fever (CSF) (affecting pigs) and Lumpy Skin Disease (affects cattle). 
• Importance: India's 20th Livestock Census (2019) reports around 536 million livestock, including 303 million bovines. Diseases impact milk, meat yield, and farm income, with high medicine costs burdening farmers.  
  • This initiative, alongside vaccination drives, aims to reduce disease prevalence and financial strain. 

Note: “Generic medicines” are basically non-branded drugs, which are marketed under a non-proprietary or approved name rather than a proprietary or brand name. 

What is a Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme? 

• About: The LHDCP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.  
  • LHDCP focuses on enhancing livestock health, productivity, and disease management, with a total outlay of Rs 3,880 crore from 2024-26. 
• Objective: The program aims to eradicate PPR by 2030, control CSF through nationwide pig vaccination. 
• Components:  LHDCP consists of three components: National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), Livestock Health & Disease Control (LH&DC), and Pashu Aushadhi.  
  • LH&DC has three sub-components which are Critical Animal Disease Control Programme (targets PPR and CSF for eradication), Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries - Mobile Veterinary Unit (supports doorstep livestock healthcare ), and Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (addresses state-prioritized diseases). 

Livestock Sector in India 

• Growth and Contribution: The livestock sector has grown at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.99% (2014-15 to 2022-23). It contributed 5.50% of India’s total Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2022-23. 
  • The livestock sector contribution to agriculture and allied sector GVA increased from 24.38% (2014-15) to 30.23% (2022-23). 
  • Livestock provides livelihood to two-third of rural communities. It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. 
• Milk, Meat, and Egg Production: India ranks 1st in milk production, contributing 24.76% of global production. 
  • Milk production increased from 146.31 million tonnes (2014-15) to 239.30 million tonnes (2023-24), growing at a CAGR of 5.62%. 
  • India ranks 2nd in egg production (1st China) and 5th in meat production globally (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2022). 
    • Egg production grew from 78.48 billion (2014-15) to 142.77 billion (2023-24) at a CAGR of 6.87%. 
    • Meat production increased from 6.69 million tonnes (2014-15) to 10.25 million tonnes (2023-24) at a CAGR of 4.85%. 
• Government Initiatives Driving Growth: Rashtriya Gokul Mission promotes indigenous breed conservation. The National Programme for Dairy Development enhances milk processing, while the National Livestock Mission expands insurance and fodder production.  
  • Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) supports private investments in dairy, meat, and veterinary infrastructure.  

Drishti Mains Question: 

Analyze the role of Pashu Aushadhi Kendras in ensuring affordable veterinary care for livestock farmers. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Mains 

Q. Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector in India. (2015)