Maharashtra Becomes First Indian State to Grant Agricultural Status to Livestock & Poultry Farming.
National
On 11 July 2025, Maharashtra became the first Indian state to grant agricultural status to livestock and poultry farming. This landmark decision, approved by the state cabinet led by Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde, aims to ensure equitable subsidies and financial benefits for rural households dependent on animal husbandry-based livelihoods.
- The policy formally includes dairy, goat rearing, piggery, and poultry under agriculture. Eligibility criteria include broiler farms with up to 25,000 birds, layer farms with 50,000, hatcheries with 45,000 capacity, dairy units with 100 animals, goat/sheep farms with 500, and pig farms with 200—covering small and medium-scale livestock farmers.
- An estimated 76.41 lakh livestock-rearing families across Maharashtra are set to benefit. The recognition will help generate â‚ą7,700 crore annually through increased productivity and access to structured support, while legitimizing thousands of informal livestock units operating in rural areas lacking official recognition and institutional benefits.
Main Point :- (i) Animal husbandry contributes 24% to Maharashtra’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), double the 12% from crop agriculture. Aligning livestock farming with agriculture status recognizes its economic importance and employment potential, especially for landless and marginal farmers in rural and peri-urban regions across the state.
(ii) Eligible farmers will now receive electricity at agricultural tariff rates and qualify for solar subsidy schemes and the Panjabrao Deshmukh Interest Subsidy Scheme, offering 4% interest relief on loans. Taxes from gram panchayats will be rationalized, ensuring uniformity across all formally recognized animal farming units.
(iii) This reform aligns with NITI Aayog’s 2021 recommendations advocating structured livestock sector reforms to reduce rural distress and boost productivity. Maharashtra aims to stimulate private investment, foster rural innovation, and create Tier-2 and Tier-3 employment, encouraging other Indian states to adopt similar inclusive agriculture policies.
About Maharashtra
Chief minister: Devendra Fadnavis
Governor: C. P. Radhakrishnan
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