Digital platforms strengthen livestock and fisheries services for farmers

New Delhi: The Government is using digital platforms and technology to strengthen the livestock and fisheries sectors and improve access to services for farmers, fishers, fish farmers and other stakeholders, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh said.

Under the Bharat Pashudhan digital ecosystem, 39.23 crore livestock have so far been registered through the 12-digit unique identification system known as ‘Pashu Aadhaar’.

The platform enables tracking of livestock-related information covering breeding, health, ownership and productivity. Field workers use mobile and web applications to record activities including animal registration, artificial insemination, vaccination, disease reporting, e-prescriptions, ration balancing and milk recording.

17.27 Crore Artificial Inseminations Recorded

Under the Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP), 17.27 crore artificial inseminations have been recorded, covering 10.51 crore animals and benefiting 5.98 crore farmers.

Bharat Pashudhan also stores milk productivity data from genetic improvement programmes to support the identification of high genetic merit bovines. The 1962 Mobile App allows farmers to access authenticated livestock information and services using the unique animal identification number.

35.85 Lakh Stakeholders Registered on NFDP

In the fisheries sector, the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) has registered 35.85 lakh fishers, fish farmers, fish vendors and other stakeholders.

The platform was launched on September 11, 2024, under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), which is being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for four years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 with an estimated outlay of ₹6,000 crore.

NFDP aims to formalise the fisheries and aquaculture sector by creating digital identities and a database of stakeholders. It also provides a platform for access to institutional credit, fisheries cooperatives, aquaculture insurance, performance-based incentives, traceability systems, training and capacity building.

Digital Access to Credit and Insurance

Under PM-MKSSY, the entire application process for beneficiaries seeking financial and technical support has been made available online.

Its Component 1-A focuses on improving access to institutional credit for fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors and micro and small enterprises. Twelve nationalised banks have been onboarded onto NFDP, with applications forwarded to banks for further processing.

Eligible beneficiaries can receive financial assistance of up to ₹5,000 for successful loans.

Under Component 1-B, farmers purchasing aquaculture insurance can receive a one-time incentive of 40% of the premium paid, subject to specified ceilings. For eligible aquaculture systems, the incentive can go up to ₹25,000 per hectare or ₹1 lakh per farmer for four hectares of Water Spread Area.

For intensive aquaculture systems such as farms, cage culture, RAS, bio-floc and raceways, the incentive is available at 40% of the premium, subject to a ceiling of ₹1 lakh per farmer for 1,800 cubic metres. SC/ST and women beneficiaries receive an additional 10% incentive.

The digital initiatives are aimed at improving access to livestock and fisheries services while strengthening formalisation, productivity, credit access and insurance support across the two sectors.