INDIA needs stronger veterinary infrastructure and skills to support its rural economy, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying S P Singh Baghel said on Saturday. Speaking at a national workshop marking World Veterinary Day, Baghel called veterinarians “the backbone of the rural economy” and stressed the need for collaboration among veterinary professionals, scientists and public health experts to ensure integrated health approaches, an official statement said.

 

India houses over 536 million livestock, the world’s largest population, with nearly 70 per cent of rural households depending on animals for income, food and security, he said. Baghel highlighted the importance of indigenous livestock breeds, which are adapted to local climate conditions and crucial for sustainable production systems. He advocated for advanced technologies