Sectoral Priorities for Sustainable Livestock Development in Rajasthan: Lessons from Total Factor Productivity Growth^§

The paper has examined long-term trends in total factor productivity of the livestock sector in Rajasthan and has assessed the development priorities in seven agro-climatic zones of the state. In the span of past five decades, from 1960–61 to 2009–10, there has been a negligible growth in the TFP and its contribution to nominal and real output growth in livestock sector is about 12 per cent and 0.4 per cent, respectively. In the situation of large feed and fodder deficit in the state in relation to the nutritional requirement of animal stock, the sustainability of input driven growth is a serious concern. The slow growth in real output of meat group (1.4%) and declining trend in wool and hair (growth rate, -0.5%) during the previous decade, needs to be addressed as the state has large stock of small ruminants that are reared mostly by marginalized socio-economic groups. The study has used multi-criterion scoring method (congruence method) for normative allocation of the investment resources across agro-climatic zones in Rajasthan. For balancing the efficiency, equity and sustainability criteria for livestock development in the state, the top two zones that require ardent policy attention are Arid Western Plains and Southern Plain and Aravali Hills, where nearly 43 per cent of the resources for livestock development should be invested. Highlighting the regional priorities for livestock development in the state, the study has emphasized on reducing the yield gap through technological advancement, interventions for decreasing the stocking rate of livestock, dissemination of region-specific scientific livestock farming practices and introduction of value-added livestock products for enhancing calorie intake.