Dr. Neeraj Kumar Chanchal, IFS, Addl. Secretary & Director, Animal Resources Development Department

From the Desk of the Director, ARDD:

Livestock and poultry rearing constitute one of the primary economic activities in the State, supporting a significant portion of the population's livelihoods. Moreover, it holds the potential to offer a sustainable source of income for unemployed youth and economically downtrodden people. In fact, approximately 85% of families in the State are directly dependent on various forms of animal husbandry activity, highlighting the prominence development role of this sector in Tripura's. Currently, this sector contributes 5.06% to the total Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), and it is expected to witness gradual growth in the coming future.

The Department places great emphasis on the survival and productivity of livestock and poultry, which are considered as valuable assets for farmers. To achieve this, a diverse range of activities such as vaccination, treatment, genetic up gradation of breeds, and the adoption of effective animal husbandry management practices are implemented.

Despite its relatively small size, this state has a significant forest coverage, accounting for approximately 60% of its area, while only 26% is dedicated to cultivation and other agricultural practices. As the potential for expanding the cultivable land area is restricted, efforts have been redirected towards enhancing productivity per unit of land. In this context, livestock and animal husbandry have emerged as favorable options that can effectively utilize agricultural by-products to generate milk, meat, and eggs.