Integrating Animal Husbandry With Farming Can Boost Farmers’ Income: Jayant Chaudhary

Mathura: Farmers should combine agriculture with animal husbandry to diversify their income and make rural livelihoods more sustainable, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary said on Friday.

Addressing the PM-Kisan Utsav Diwas programme at the Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG) in Farah, Chaudhary encouraged farmers to take up goat rearing alongside crop cultivation. He suggested that goat farmers form Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and self-help groups to market their products independently and improve their earnings.

Around 800 farmers, livestock rearers and other participants attended the programme.

PM-Kisan Instalment Highlighted at the Event

The event featured a live broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi releasing the 24th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.

Chaudhary said the scheme, launched in 2019, has provided financial support to farmers. He noted that direct transfers into farmers’ bank accounts strengthen their purchasing power and contribute to the rural economy, benefiting small traders and daily-wage workers as well.

Why Should Farmers Diversify Beyond Crop Cultivation?

The minister observed that agriculture remains a major source of livelihood across the country, with more than half of the workforce in nearly half of India's districts depending on the sector.

He said agricultural research, technology and innovation are essential to make farming more productive and financially sustainable. Despite industrialisation and the growth of alternative employment opportunities, a significant section of the population continues to depend on agriculture.

Integrating livestock activities with farming, he added, can provide households with an additional source of income and help improve their financial stability.

CIRG Research and Training Initiatives Discussed

During the visit, Chaudhary appreciated the institute’s research and training work and met its Director, Dr Manish Kumar Chetley. Discussions focused on possible coordination between the Ministry of Skill Development, the Agriculture Department and CIRG to introduce new training initiatives and employment-oriented programmes.

Referring to Aadhaar-based attendance and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) arrangements at skill development training centres, the minister stressed the importance of transparency in government schemes. He said financial assistance is now being transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, with public funds being used according to prescribed procedures.

Scientific Support for Goat Farming and Sustainable Agriculture

CIRG Director Dr Manish Kumar Chetley said the institute provides research, training and technical guidance to promote goat farming as a scientific and commercially viable activity. Its efforts are aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods through animal husbandry.

During the programme, institute scientists also briefed farmers on soil quality, maintaining fertility and adopting sustainable agricultural practices.