LDF, India’s first expo bringing livestock, dairy and fisheries ecosystems under one roof kicked off

 Hyderabad, on September 21, 2023……. India’s all-in-one and Industry-focused Livestock, Dairy and Fisheries Trade Exposition and knowledge Conclave  “LDF India” began at Hitex on Thursday.  LDF stands for Livestock, Dairy and Fisheries.  The three-day expo which concludes on Sunday features 80 stalls highlights the significant benefits, and showcases the strengths and export potential of the sector.  

It is jointly hosted by Hitex and Aqua Farming Technologies and Solutions (AFTS).   

It was formally inaugurated by Dr Tarun Shridhar, Former Union Secretary—AHD, Govt of India and Member, Central Administrative Tribunal, Dr L. Narasimha Murthy, ARS, Chief Executive I/c & Senior Executive Director, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB); Susheela Chintala, Chief General Manager, NABARD, Telangana; D. Chandra Sekhar, IEDS, Additional Development Commissioner; Sri WVR Reddy, IAS and Mr. Venu Dantuluri -AFTS.

Addressing the gathering Dr Tarun Shridhar said livestock never got its due credit. It has always been a subset of Agriculture.  India lives in villages.  You won’t find a farmer without having a connection to livestock. Livestock is somehow relegated to a secondary role.  However, India has a significant livestock population, is a major global fish producer, and leads in global milk production and consumption.  A dedicated expo on LDF is the need of the hour and I hope that it will soon graduate on par with Boston SeaFoods at the global level.

India is the Data Capital of the world.  Technology has been disrupting.  Technology in Animal Husbandry is no exception. However, the livestock industry is overlooked and under-serviced, although it is the most vital and provides much-needed renewable natural resources that we rely on daily. So why is the process of adopting technology so slow within this industry? he asked.   Expos like this not only showcase our strengths but also wake up our policyholders Dr Tarun Shridhar said. 

The livestock sector is a fast-growing sector of our economy. It records 8.5% growth, which is higher than the manufacturing and services sector, he added.  Dr L. Narasimha Murthy, Chief Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), an autonomous organization under the administrative control of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India said the livestock sector thrived even during covid and recorded 8 to 9% growth. Speaking about the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), he said it is an initiative launched by the Government of India to establish a comprehensive framework and reduce infrastructural gaps in the fisheries sector. It has generated 47.19 lakh employment opportunities.  It has achieved 174 lakh tonnes of record fish production in 2022-23.  It achieved Rs 63,960 crores of seafood exports.  33.86 lakh fisheries are covered annually under the Ground Accident Insurance Scheme.  Further, he said that India is the second largest Aquaculture Producer in the World and about 68% of India’s fish come from the aquaculture sector. 

Cattle are power. Livestock has always been an integral part of Agriculture.  But it is no longer seen as attractive, though it has very good potential. But good days have come back as the whole world is talking about natural, organic and regenerative farming. The livestock sector now is seen as a very big sector with great potential just as food security but as nutrition security. Livestock products assume greater importance in light of India’s 107 positions out of 121 in the World Hunger Index. With more than 70% of the meat-consuming population, India needs to gear up to meet the projected demand of 18.1 MT and per capita meat consumption of 13.8 kg in 2050, said Suseela Chintala, Chief General Manager, NABARD.   

D. Chandra Sekhar, Additional Development Commissioner, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Govt of India said the Ministry has enabled 46(23 local and 23 non-local) Micro and Small entrepreneurs to participate in India.   WVR Reddy, a retired bureaucrat and a subject expert said we all are connected to livestock from our early childhood.  But our youth are no longer interested in it.  We must make this sector a blue-collar-like sector so that we can attract youth.  To make it attractive.  you need to bring technology and innovation.  

Dalit Bandhu beneficiaries also plan to visit the expo to explore opportunities.  

Godavari Cuts displayed 25 kg of YellowFin Tuna, a rare variety of fish. Yellowfin can live up to six or seven years. They are highly migratory and are found throughout the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Yellowfish tuna is endangered.  The species also ranks among the largest tuna species globally.   The expo has many stalls such as Country Chicken, which was founded by two young entrepreneurs Saikesh Gound and Mohd Sami Uddin, who talk about the world’s first odorless meat store.  Many stress the need for modern meat stores, meat stores which are hygienic.  Post-COVID hygiene has been a major concern for everybody. Though we have good, Hygienic shops for vegetables, not many hygienic meat shops are found. People are scared of buying meat from untrusted shops. They are scared to buy frozen fish. They are scared to buy chicken from untidy places.  Women go out to buy vegetables, but meat is bought by men. Why is this? Asked many. Now things are changing and meat shops have become more hygienic. 

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