Animal husbandry gets agriculture-equivalent status in Maharashtra

Time of India

2 days ago

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In a significant policy shift aimed at boosting rural income and employment, the Maharashtra govt has accorded agriculture-equivalent status to the animal husbandry sector.
The decision, issued via a government resolution (GR) on Thursday, will entitle eligible livestock-based businesses to power tariff concessions, subsidies on solar equipment, uniform gram panchayat taxes, and loan interest rebates akin to those given to crop farmers.
As per the GR, eligible animal husbandry units will now be billed at agricultural rates instead of the higher "agri-other" commercial category.
Solar pumps and equipment for livestock farms will receive subsidies on par with those offered to crop cultivators. Panchayat tax will now be levied at the same rate as for agricultural operations across the state, and loan borrowers will be eligible for up to 4% interest subvention on working capital and other loans, similar to the Punjabrao Deshmukh interest subsidy scheme.
The move aligns with recommendations by the Maharashtra Economic Advisory Council, which identified agriculture and allied sectors as key growth drivers in its roadmap to achieve a Rs 8.3 lakh crore state economy by 2028.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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According to govt data, agriculture accounts for 12% of Maharashtra's gross income, with animal-based produce contributing 24% of the agri-sector's revenue, the GR states.
Currently, over 60 lakh families are engaged in animal husbandry across the state. As per the 20th livestock census, Maharashtra houses around 1.9 crore cattle, including over 1.4 crore bovines and 56 lakh buffaloes.
Officials said the sector has long suffered due to disparities in electricity rates, lack of solar subsidies, and higher gram panchayat taxes compared to agriculture.
"By equating animal husbandry with farming, we expect increased participation, local job creation, and investment in modern practices like group-based livestock farming and value-added processing," said a senior official from the state secretariat.
According to the GR, eligible units for agri-equivalent benefits include small and medium-scale animal husbandry units with operational capacities up to 25,000 broiler chickens or 50,000 layer birds, hatchery units with a capacity of up to 45,000 birds, cattle sheds with up to 100 milch animals, goat/sheep sheds housing up to 500 animals, and pig farming units with up to 200 pigs.
However, breeder poultry units and animal-product processing industries will not qualify for these benefits, clarified the GR, which also states that key benefits under the new status include power tariff, solar subsidies, tax uniformity, and loan subsidies, at par with the agricultural sector.
The GR also mentions that detailed guidelines and implementation procedures will be issued separately. The resolution follows informal approvals by the state's Planning and Finance Departments earlier this year.
This policy alignment comes in the wake of NITI Aayog's 2021 report, which recommended integrating livestock farming into broader agriculture policy frameworks to enhance its contribution to national and state GDP.