Investment in livestock extension activities by State Departments of Animal Husbandry (SDAH) in India: An appraisal

Abstract

The investment in terms of budget allocation, expenditure and performance of the SDAH with respect to livestock
extension activities across various states was analyzed, using the information available from the annual reports, websites
and occasional publications of the SDAH, reports of Planning Commission and other agencies. We found that livestock
extension was the activity paid least attention by majority of the states in terms of programmes, infrastructure, budgetary
allocations and deployment of staff. Only few states had exclusive wing for extension activities even at the state
headquarters which poorly indicated their programmes and budget for livestock extension. In some states, there is a
publicity and extension wing at state headquarters, often with few extension officers, negligible equipments and very
small budget for extension (0.03% to 9% of total budget of department), which is responsible for publication of literatures
in local languages, conducting training programme, organizing demonstrations, health camps/ melas/ fairs, exhibitions
and training. It is recommended that each SDAH should create an extension and training wing at state headquarters with
regional/local wings, staffed and equipped with trained livestock extension specialists, audio-visual (AV) equipments
and mobile