The Animal Husbandry Department of Lakshadweep, established in the late 1960s, plays a vital role in promoting livestock and poultry-based livelihoods among islanders. Key programmes include poultry, goat, and cattle development, veterinary services, and disease control. The department supports household backyard farming, offers financial assistance under various State Schemes for the upliftment of livestock farmers. The department is also distributing Country Birds to BPL women farmers, SHGs, and NHGs to help achieve self-sufficiency in egg production.
To encourage participation in animal husbandry activities and promote gainful employment, poultry farms, hatcheries, and feed godowns have been outsourced to private players with the objective of generating more economic activity.
Through decentralization of power to Panchayati Raj Institutions, functions and funds are transferred to District Panchayats, while the department continues to provide grants and technical guidance. Centrally Sponsored Schemes like the Integrated Sample Survey, Livestock Census, Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, National Livestock Mission, National Animal Disease Control Programme, etc. are implemented with 100% central assistance.
The department aims to ensure disease-free livestock, promote entrepreneurship, and build infrastructure and capacity in the animal husbandry sector, contributing to the economic development of the islands.
Services
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- Facilitating the provision of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans to farmers involved in the Animal Husbandry sector.
- Providing timely and accessible veterinary treatment facilities to ensure prompt care for sick or injured animals across all islands.
- Conducting regular vaccination campaigns for livestock and poultry to prevent the outbreak of contagious and zoonotic diseases.
Poultry Development Programme
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- Grant for setting up of large-scale poultry units
- Award for best Poultry Farmer at UT and Island Level
- Financial Assistance for setting up of small-scale Poultry FarmsGrant for Establishing of Hatchery.
- Financial Assistance for making Household Poultry cage.
- Financial Assistance for chicks procured by farmers.
Goat Development Programme
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- Providing Financial Assistance to farmers for the procured High breed goats
- Award for Best Goat Farmer at UT and Island level.
- Financial Assistance to farmers for setting up of platform Goat Shed with linkmesh fencing.
Cattle Development Programme
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- Award for Best Cattle Farmer at Lakshadweep and Island level
- Financial Assistance for Cattle Shed.