Meat sector boom: Share in farm output rises 2.5 pc points to 7.5% in a decade

Indian Express

4 hours ago

India's meat sector boomed in the last decade, with its share in the value of agriculture sector output increasing to 7.5 per cent in 2023-24 from 5 per cent in 2011-12 when measured in constant prices, according to data from the statistics ministry released on Friday. In current prices – or prices not adjusted for inflation – the increase in share of meat's Gross Value of Output (GVO) was similar: from 5 per cent in 2011-12 to 7.7 per cent in 2023-24.
'Livestock sector has witnessed a significant boom during the last decade,' the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said in its 'Value of Output from Agriculture and Allied Sectors' report. The GVO of the sector rose to Rs 9.19 lakh crore in 2023-24 from Rs 4.88 lakh crore in 2011-12 in constant prices, with its share in the GVO of agriculture and allied activities rising to 31.2 per cent from 25.6 per cent over the same period.
The overall GVO of agriculture and allied activities – which include crops, livestock, forestry and logging, and fishing and aquaculture – was Rs 29.49 lakh crore in 2023-24, up from Rs 19.08 lakh crore in 2011-12. According to MoSPI's national accounts data, 'agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing' accounted for 14.7 per cent of the total gross value added in the country in 2023-24. This edged down slightly to 14.4 per cent in 2024-25.
Meat on the rise
While milk retained its position as the top contributor to the livestock category, its share has declined over the years to 65.9 per cent from 67.2 per cent. At the same time, the share of meat has increased to 24.1 per cent from 19.7 per cent.
'In livestock, the application of biotechnology and improved breeding techniques has led to increased productivity and a higher output of milk, meat, and other animal products. Additionally, this sector has seen growing investments in infrastructure, such as cold chains and veterinary services, which have improved animal health and product quality,' the MoSPI report said.
The rising share of meat in the GVO of livestock as well as agriculture and allied activities comes at a time when India's exports of meat have been rising. In 2023-24, India's meat exports amounted to $3.83 billion, up 17 per cent from the previous year.
Export of buffalo meat, which accounts for 98 per cent of India's outbound meat shipments, rose by 17.1 per cent in 2023-24 to $3.74 billion, with Uttar Pradesh having a share of nearly 60 per cent. 'As per the Foreign Trade Policy, export of beef which includes meat and edible offal of cows, oxen and calves is prohibited. The department is not in receipt of any State legislation impacting meat exports,' Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had said in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha in December 2024.
Declining crop share
With the share of livestock and other segments rising over the years, the contribution of crops to the GVO of agriculture and allied activities has declined, although it remains 'the backbone of Indian agriculture' with its share in 2023-24 at 54.1 per cent, down from 62.4 per cent in 2011-12.
'The data highlights a gradual diversification within the agricultural economy, reflecting changing demand patterns, policy support, and technological improvements,' the statistics ministry said in its report.
Cereals and fruits and vegetables made up more than half of crop GVO, with the statistics ministry noting that the share of 'spices and condiments' had increased from 3.9 per cent in 2011-12 to 5.9 per cent in 2023-24, 'suggesting rising domestic and export demand for spices, possibly aided by improved processing and branding'.
Within fruits, the GVO of bananas was the largest for the second year in a row after it ended the dominance of mangoes in 2022-23. However, mangoes clawed back some ground in 2023-24, with their GVO rising 6.7 per cent to Rs 46,050 crore, while that of bananas was up a smaller 4.4 per cent at Rs 46,996 crore.
Siddharth Upasani is a Deputy Associate Editor with The Indian Express. He reports primarily on data and the economy, looking for trends and changes in the former which paint a picture of the latter. Before The Indian Express, he worked at Moneycontrol and financial newswire Informist (previously called Cogencis). Outside of work, sports, fantasy football, and graphic novels keep him busy.
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