Livestock Insurance Scheme

Subject :Schemes

Concept :

According to information by a Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) regarding zero insurance coverage of livestock in 2022-23, the Centre is considering a comprehensive livestock insurance scheme modelling the Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana.

Findings of the Parliamentary panel:

At present, less than 1% of the country’s cattle population is insured and the average yearly premium is 4.5% of the insured amount.
The report also highlighted that not even a single livestock was insured during 2022-23, whereas during 2021-22, 1, 74,061 animals were insured.
The Committee asked Department of Animal Husbandry to explore the possibility of developing an App-based Livestock Insurance facility for livestock owners.
Committee noted that high policy premium rates and general economic conditions of farmers are reasons for lower enrolment in such schemes.

About Livestock Insurance scheme:

The Livestock Insurance Scheme, a centrally sponsored scheme was implemented on a pilot basis during 2005-06 and 2006-07.
The scheme was later implemented on a regular basis from 2008-09 in 100 newly selected districts of the country.
The scheme was later subsumed under the Sub-mission on ‘Innovation and Extension: on livestock development of National Livestock Mission’.
Coverage: The scheme is implemented in all the districts of the Country from 21.05.2014.
Animals covered:
The indigenous/crossbred milch animals, pack animals (Horses, Donkey, Mules, Camels, Ponies and Cattle/Buffalo Males), and Other Livestock (Goat, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbit, Yak and Mithun etc.) are covered under the purview of this component.

Livestock Related Facts

India has rich Livestock resources which can be seen in the following manner:

World’s highest livestock owner at about 535.78 million
First in the total buffalo population in the world – 109.85 million buffaloes
Second in the population of goats – 148.88 million goats
Second largest poultry market in the world
The second largest producer of fish and also the second largest aquaculture nation in the world
Third in the population of sheep (74.26 million)
Fifth in the population of ducks and chickens (851.81 million)
Tenth in camel population in the world – 2.5 lakhs

Other Livestock related initiatives

Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): To undertake a breed improvement programme for indigenous breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock.
E-PashuHaat Portal: This portal connects breeders and farmers regarding the availability of quality bovine germplasm.
National Animal Disease Control Programme: It has been launched for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis with a total outlay of Rs.13,343 crores to ensure 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population.
National Livestock Mission: IT is for the intensive development of livestock, tiny livestock along with adequate availability of quality feed and fodder.
LivestockHealth& Disease Control Scheme: Assistance is provided for the prevention and control of animal diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) etc.
Disease Protection of Livestock: For livestock protection, the diagnostic kits against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Bluetongue (BT) diseases and Subviral Particle-based Infectious Bursal Disease Vaccine were developed.