Livestock Sector Gets a Strategic Boost in Union Budget 2026
Recognising the livestock sector’s growing contribution — now accounting for nearly 16% of farm income, particularly supporting poor and marginal households — the Government has announced a 26% increase in funding for veterinary infrastructure with a strong focus on disease prevention, modernisation and entrepreneurship development.
Major Financial Allocations & Programmes
An updated national programme has been approved with an allocation of ₹3,880 crore for 2024–25 and 2025–26, primarily focused on nationwide vaccination drives against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis, as well as strengthening veterinary healthcare delivery systems and transitioning from reactive disease response to preventive and productive animal healthcare.
Further strengthening the sector, the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) — with a total outlay of ₹29,610 crore — has been extended until March 31, 2026. The fund continues to support critical investments in dairy processing, meat processing, and animal feed plants, encouraging private sector participation and modern infrastructure creation.
Expanding Veterinary Education & Professional Capacity
Addressing the acute shortage of veterinary professionals, the Budget proposes scaling up capacity by over 20,000 professionals through a loan-linked capital subsidy support scheme. This will facilitate the establishment of veterinary and para-veterinary colleges, veterinary hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and breeding facilities. Collaboration between Indian and foreign institutions will also be promoted to bring global best practices into India’s livestock ecosystem.
Dedicated allocations announced include:
- Animal Health Institute – ₹100 crore
- Small Livestock Institute – ₹50 crore
- Breed Improvement Institute – ₹50 crore
- Infrastructure Development Fund – ₹460 crore
- Veterinary Council of India – ₹10 crore
These initiatives collectively aim to strengthen institutional capacity, research, and breed improvement programmes across the country.
Entrepreneurship & Value Chain Strengthening
To generate quality employment opportunities in rural and peri-urban areas, the Government will support entrepreneurship in animal husbandry through a credit-linked subsidy programme and modernisation of livestock enterprises.
The creation of integrated value chains in livestock, dairy and poultry will be enhanced, alongside support for Livestock Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). The focus is on improving farm-to-market linkages, promoting value addition, and ensuring better returns for producers.
With the livestock sector growing at approximately 7% annually — outpacing overall agricultural growth — these measures are both timely and strategic.
Driving Productivity, Sustainability & Growth
The emphasis on veterinary education, diagnostics, breeding infrastructure, and disease control will significantly improve productivity, animal health standards, and supply chain efficiency. Future science-led interventions in cattle genetics and breeding are also expected to accelerate livestock productivity and enhance farmer incomes.
IPEMA–Poultry India Perspective
IPEMA–Poultry India welcomes these forward-looking initiatives, which reflect a clear vision to transform India’s livestock and poultry sectors into globally competitive, technology-driven and resilient growth engines.
The shift from reactive disease management to preventive veterinary care, combined with infrastructure modernisation and entrepreneurship promotion, aligns strongly with the industry’s aspirations. These reforms not only enhance animal health and productivity but also contribute meaningfully to rural prosperity and the national goal of building a $5 trillion economy.
IPEMA remains committed to supporting policy advocacy, technology adoption, and global collaboration to ensure the sustained growth and advancement of India’s poultry and livestock ecosystem.
Complied by Poultry India media
