Importance of the cow in the Indian Economy over the centuries
Bos Indicus or Zebu cattle breeds which are the humped cattle, found in the Indian sub-continent are thought to be the world's oldest domesticated cattle. There are differing views about the exact origin of the Indian cattle breeds and as to whether or not they were brought into India by the Aryans or existed in the country even prior to that. According to some historians, the abundant remains of humped bulls in every stratum of the archaeological site at Mohenjodaro, indicate that “ the Indus Valley must have been specially rich in this fine breed of cattle .......” (Ref. Dasgupta Satish Chandra, Cow in India, Vol.I, p.115, 1945).
Whatever the origin, the fact remains that the cow has been a cornerstone of Indian agriculture for centuries and has served as source of nutrition for farmer’s families through milk and milk products, as well as providing draught animal power for both agricultural operations such as ploughing and tilling the land, as well as for transportation of goods. Nearly all basic necessities of life were woven around the cow, with contributions in all aspects of life, including farming and manure, food and nourishment, transport, fuel (burning of dried cow dung cakes and medicinal usage of cow dung and cow urine.
Coming to the position in the first half of the twentieth century, the economic contribution from cattle in India was studied by several authors, as documented by Shri Satish Chandra Dasgupta in his book entitled “The Cow in India” (at p.372-382). According to Shri Dasgupta, the wealth produced by cattle was quantified in 1933 by Sir Arthur Oliver (with Shri M. Vaidyanathan) as around Rs1900 crores with the following break-up:
Present-day context
The significance of cattle and their contribution to the Indian economy has, if anything, further increased in the present-day context, when the impact of rapid industrialisation and mechanisation is taking its toll on the ecological bio-sphere.
According to the Government of India’s Economic Survey 2001-2002, the total contribution of Agriculture and allied sectors, like Animal Husbandry, to the GDP amounted to Rs 3,05,643 crores (at 1993-94 prices), while the total GDP from all sectors of the economy was Rs 12,58,800 crores (at 1993-94 prices). The contribution of the livestock sector alone was 5.9 % of the total GDP. As a percentage of the agricultural GDP, the livestock sector (minus fisheries) contributes about 24% as against 22.6% in 1998-99.
While the proportionate contribution of livestock sector (4.8 – 6.5%) to total Gross Domestic Product Growth (GDP) has remained constant, its contribution to agricultural GDP has gone up over the years. This however does not include animal power, which is valued at between Rs 4,000/- and Rs 9,500/- crores in terms of fuel equivalent. According to the Economic Survey 2001-2002, the contribution of milk and milk products alone, (Rs 1,01,990 crores) was higher than wheat (Rs 47,091 crores) and sugarcane (Rs27,647 crores).
Bos Indicus or Zebu cattle breeds which are the humped cattle, found in the Indian sub-continent are thought to be the world's oldest domesticated cattle. There are differing views about the exact origin of the Indian cattle breeds and as to whether or not they were brought into India by the Aryans or existed in the country even prior to that. According to some historians, the abundant remains of humped bulls in every stratum of the archaeological site at Mohenjodaro, indicate that “ the Indus Valley must have been specially rich in this fine breed of cattle .......” (Ref. Dasgupta Satish Chandra, Cow in India, Vol.I, p.115, 1945).
Whatever the origin, the fact remains that the cow has been a cornerstone of Indian agriculture for centuries and has served as source of nutrition for farmer’s families through milk and milk products, as well as providing draught animal power for both agricultural operations such as ploughing and tilling the land, as well as for transportation of goods. Nearly all basic necessities of life were woven around the cow, with contributions in all aspects of life, including farming and manure, food and nourishment, transport, fuel (burning of dried cow dung cakes and medicinal usage of cow dung and cow urine.
Coming to the position in the first half of the twentieth century, the economic contribution from cattle in India was studied by several authors, as documented by Shri Satish Chandra Dasgupta in his book entitled “The Cow in India” (at p.372-382). According to Shri Dasgupta, the wealth produced by cattle was quantified in 1933 by Sir Arthur Oliver (with Shri M. Vaidyanathan) as around Rs1900 crores with the following break-up:
Present-day context
The significance of cattle and their contribution to the Indian economy has, if anything, further increased in the present-day context, when the impact of rapid industrialisation and mechanisation is taking its toll on the ecological bio-sphere.
According to the Government of India’s Economic Survey 2001-2002, the total contribution of Agriculture and allied sectors, like Animal Husbandry, to the GDP amounted to Rs 3,05,643 crores (at 1993-94 prices), while the total GDP from all sectors of the economy was Rs 12,58,800 crores (at 1993-94 prices). The contribution of the livestock sector alone was 5.9 % of the total GDP. As a percentage of the agricultural GDP, the livestock sector (minus fisheries) contributes about 24% as against 22.6% in 1998-99.
While the proportionate contribution of livestock sector (4.8 – 6.5%) to total Gross Domestic Product Growth (GDP) has remained constant, its contribution to agricultural GDP has gone up over the years. This however does not include animal power, which is valued at between Rs 4,000/- and Rs 9,500/- crores in terms of fuel equivalent. According to the Economic Survey 2001-2002, the contribution of milk and milk products alone, (Rs 1,01,990 crores) was higher than wheat (Rs 47,091 crores) and sugarcane (Rs27,647 crores).
