Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Government of India has been conferred with the prestigious Dr. K.K. Iya Memorial Oration award during the celebrations of the Ongoing Academic fortnight of the 20th Convocation of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal.

Dr. Mitra is an alumnus of the institute and a renowned expert in the field of Animal Husbandry and Genetic Research. He has been the Director of 2 ICAR Institutes and fellow of many prestigious societies.

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The award was being conferred on him for doing commendable work in animal genetics & breeding, molecular genetics, genomics, along with transgenesis.

Speaking on the ocassion, Dr. Mitra shed light on the remarkable transformation of India’s livestock sector, emphasizing its pivotal role in the country’s economy.

Dr. Mitra informed that with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.36% from 2014-15 to 2021-22, the livestock sector has emerged as a big, contributing factor to the Gross Value Added (GVA) and total agricultural GVA.

He further underscored the livestock sector’s importance in empowering rural communities, particularly those with small landholdings, and its crucial contribution to national food security.

Highlighting the role of women in India’s livestock systems, Dr. Mitra emphasized their economic and social empowerment, which aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

India’s global prominence as the leading milk producer further accentuates the sector’s significance on the global stage.

Despite its achievements, Dr. Mitra acknowledged that there are many challenges faced by the livestock sector, including climate change impacts, disease vulnerability, and limited access to resources and markets.

He stressed that there is an urgent need for transitioning towards sustainable smallholder systems, rooted in tradition yet adaptive to modern challenges.

He further added that India’s smallholder livestock systems, offer numerous strengths such as additional income generation, soil fertility enhancement, and employment opportunities.

Dr. Mitra also emphasized the importance of government initiatives like A-HELP, Pashu Sakhi, and the National Livestock Mission in addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and fostering sustainable growth in the sector.