Status of Livestock Diversification in Rajasthan for Period from 1997 to 2019

Livestock is the backbone of agriculture GDP which contribute around 25 per cent in Indian agriculture GDP and approx. 30 per cent of Rajasthan Agriculture GDP. The contribution of GDP in agriculture GDP can be increased by switching with profitable innovation or improved breeds that is profitable for the particular region. In another words a shift from less sustainable or profitable livestock to a more profitable and sustainable or ensuring livelihood security is livestock diversification.

The study is based on 33 district of Rajasthan's secondary data of livestock census for period from 1997 to 2019 and from 2012 to 2019, which is conducted in year 2024-25. The segment of periods provides valuable insights into the role of animal husbandry in supporting rural livelihoods and the mixed farming systems prevalent in the region. The proposed study is confined to indigenous cattle, cross bread cattle and buffalo. Herfindhal Index used to identify the livestock diversification index (Lower value indicate higher diversification) and proportional method was employed to find out the real diversified number in to the indigenous cattle, cross bread cattle and buffalo livestock.

The result of the study revealed that the index has been going down steadily in Ajmer, Bhilwara, Churu and Udaipur from 1997 to 2019. This shows that the distribution of indigenous cattle, crossbreeds and buffaloes is becoming more balanced. The Hanumangarh and Ganganagar district of Rajasthan stands on first and second position respectively in higher diversification means, in Hanumangarh district the population of buffalo decrease by 0.138 proportion (-117115 is real number change) and crossbreed cattle and indigenous cattle increase by 0.155 and 0.003 proportion and 131504 and 2711 real number changes respectively from period 1997 to 2019. Jaisalmer (0.89) and Dholpur (0.72) district have higher diversification index for year 2019 which indicate lower diversification for these districts. Jaisalmer district have decrease in indigenous cattle (21408) and increase in cross bread (18154) and buffalo (48) in real number changes.