Livestock and Poultry Production Policy for Andaman and Nicobar Islands : A scientific perspective

Abstract

India has vast resource of livestock and poultry, which play a vital role in improving the socioeconomic condition and National economy. The island agriculture and animal husbandry activities are barely 150 years old. Till late 18th century islands were inhabited by only native tribal and the major food animals was pigs and birds. With the settlement of penal colony by Britishers, livestock farming came in existence to meet out the demand of meat and milk. The island is endowed with rich faunal diversity and among them the farm animal genetic resources comprises of cattle, goat, buffalo, pig and poultry. Among them the Nicobari fowl, Teresa goat, Nicobari pig are the important indigenous germplasm of the island. The challenges ahead for the institute and the administration to address the major issues keeping in mind the growing population and the tourism sector. Now it is high time to redesign the livestock and poultry production strategies to meet out the requirement of meat, milk and egg. In the brain storming session all the eminent scientific, technocrats and bureaucrats discussed on important aspects of livestock sector and come out with valuable implementable policies and recommendations towards sustainable development of livestock sector in the islands. The authors thank all the participants for their valuable contribution for bringing out this doucument.