‘Chief Minister Rural Livestock Entrepreneurship Scheme’ to Drive Economic and Social Growth of Livestock Farmers: Minister Pankaja Munde

Pune, April 2026 : Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde said that the ‘Chief Minister Rural Livestock Entrepreneurship Scheme’ will serve as a powerful medium for the economic and social development of livestock farmers, while also strengthening the rural economy by generating employment opportunities.

She was speaking at the inauguration of a presentation and implementation workshop on the scheme held at the Kamdhenu Hall of the Animal Husbandry Commissionerate. The event was attended by Maharashtra State Goseva Commission Chairman Shekhar Mundada, Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Dr. Ramaswamy N., Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Kiran Patil, Dairy Development Commissioner Prashant Mohod, Buldhana District Collector Dr. Praveenkumar Deore, Additional Commissioner Dr. Sheetalkumar Mukane, Joint Secretary Nivruttinath Marhale, along with regional and district-level officials of the department.

Munde stated that the scheme aims to encourage rural youth to view animal husbandry not just as a traditional occupation but as a viable entrepreneurial venture. The initiative focuses on increasing income for rural families by providing technical and financial support for dairy farming, poultry, and goat and sheep rearing. She emphasized the use of modern technology to enhance productivity in animal-based products and create employment opportunities at the local level through self-employment.

She added that this initiative by the Animal Husbandry Department will significantly accelerate the rural development process in the state. Stressing the importance of effective implementation, she called for careful selection of eligible beneficiaries and strict monitoring to prevent any irregularities. She also directed that awareness camps be organized at district and taluka levels to ensure maximum outreach. Monthly reviews of the scheme’s progress will be conducted, and a large-scale state-level event will be organized soon for the distribution of benefits.

Highlighting future priorities, Munde said that farmers are increasingly becoming entrepreneurs through activities such as goat rearing, dairy farming, and poultry. She stressed that animal husbandry should be recognized as an entrepreneurial sector and called for greater encouragement of rural youth. She also suggested focusing on pig farming in the coming years and adopting a collective approach to build a strong egg brand. Additionally, she recommended implementing the “One District, One Product” model in the livestock sector. She also congratulated the department for successfully organizing the Maha Livestock Expo at Parli Vaijnath.

Dr. Ramaswamy N. noted that Maharashtra is the first state in the country to grant agriculture status to the animal husbandry sector, and the department aims to further strengthen this position. He said that both agriculture and animal husbandry have been included in the state government’s Vision Document to boost rural economic development and modernize the livestock sector.

He further informed that a budget allocation of Rs 4,552 crore has been made for the Animal Husbandry Department. Key focus areas include beneficiary selection, timely fund utilization, distribution of Kisan Credit Cards, effective use of artificial intelligence, infrastructure strengthening, and ensuring adequate manpower.

Dr. Kiran Patil added that efforts are underway to restructure the department and introduce a new direction, including the redesign of around 27 schemes to boost rural employment and economic growth.

On the occasion, Minister Munde inaugurated vehicles procured for veterinary officers, released the ‘Maha Pashudhan Varta’ magazine, and felicitated officials involved in designing the scheme and organizing the livestock expo. A farewell was also given to Dr. Praveenkumar Deore on his transfer as District Collector of Buldhana.