Stronger veterinary infrastructure key to rural economy growth: Union minister S P Singh Baghel

India needs strong veterinary infrastructure and skilled professionals to support its rural economy, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying SP Singh Baghel said on Saturday.
Speaking at a national workshop on the occasion of World Veterinary Day, Bagel described veterinarians as a “backbone of rural economy” and called for more cooperation among veterinary professionals, scientists and public health experts to ensure an integrated health approach.
He said that India is a home of more than 536 million livestock, the largest in the world, with about 70 percent of rural families based on animals for income, food and livelihood security.
The minister emphasized the importance of indigenous livestock breeds, which is essential for local climatic conditions and permanent agricultural systems. He also advocated adopting advanced reproductive technologies such as sex-servant semen and in vitro fertilization (IVF) to promote animal productivity.
Bagel also highlighted digital efforts such as the National Digital Livestock Mission to monitor real -time disease and re -confirmed India’s commitment to deal with a health approach to a health approach.
Animal husband Secretary Alka Upadhyay called for a “a comprehensive overhaul” of the country’s veterinary ecosystem, pointing to a severe shortage of veterinary professionals, despite significant progress in technologies such as IVF and cattle vaccination.
The FAO’s Assistant Director General of Thanwat Tynsine, while speaking virtually from Rome, praised its recent recognition under the Epidemination Fund for India’s leadership and animal health preparation in the Global One Health Initiatives.
The theme for World Veterinary Day 2025 underlines the need for joint efforts by veterinarians, scientists, public health experts and farmers.