India’s all-in-one and Industry-focused Livestock, Dairy and Fisheries Trade Exposition and knowledge Conclave “LDF India” (Livestock, Dairy and Fisheries) began at Hitex in the city on Thursday. The three-day expo which concludes on Saturday features 80 stalls highlighting the significant benefits, and showcases the strengths and export potential of the sector. Jointly hosting by Hitex and Aqua Farming Technologies and Solutions (AFTS), the expo was formally inaugurated by Dr Tarun Shridhar, Former Union Secretary—AHD and Member, Central Administrative Tribunal, Dr L. Narasimha Murthy, ARS, Chief Executive (In-Charge) & Senior Executive Director, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB); Susheela Chintala, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Telangana and D. Chandra Sekhar, IEDS, Additional Development Commissioner. Addressing the gathering, Dr Tarun Shridhar said India has a significant livestock population, is a major global fish producer, and leads in global milk production and consumption. India is the Data Capital of the world. Technology has been disrupting.
Technology in Animal Husbandry is no exception. However, the livestock industry is overlooked and under-serviced, although it is the most vital and provides much-needed renewable natural resources that we rely on daily basis. The livestock sector is a fast-growing sector of our economy and it records 8.5 per cent growth, which is higher than the manufacturing and services sector, he added. Dr L. Narasimha Murthy, said the livestock sector thrived even during covid and recorded 8 to 9% growth. Speaking about the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), he said it is an initiative launched by the Government of India to establish a comprehensive framework and reduce infrastructural gaps in the fisheries sector. It has generated 47.19 lakh employment opportunities and it has achieved 174 lakh tonnes of record fish production in 2022-23. It achieved Rs 63,960 crores of seafood exports.
He said that India is the second largest Aquaculture Producer in the World and about 68% of India’s fish come from the aquaculture sector. Suseela Chintala said the livestock products assume greater importance in light of India’s 107 positions out of 121 in the World Hunger Index. With more than 70% of the meat-consuming population, India needs to gear up to meet the projected demand of 18.1 MT and per capita meat consumption of 13.8 kg in 2050.