India’s meat sector boomed within the final decade, with its share within the worth of agriculture sector output rising to 7.5 per cent in 2023-24 from 5 per cent in 2011-12 when measured in fixed costs, based on knowledge from the statistics ministry launched on Friday. In present costs – or costs not adjusted for inflation – the rise in share of meat’s Gross Worth of Output (GVO) was related: from 5 per cent in 2011-12 to 7.7 per cent in 2023-24.
“Livestock sector has witnessed a major increase over the past decade,” the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) mentioned in its ‘Worth of Output from Agriculture and Allied Sectors’ report. The GVO of the sector rose to Rs 9.19 lakh crore in 2023-24 from Rs 4.88 lakh crore in 2011-12 in fixed costs, with its share within the GVO of agriculture and allied actions rising to 31.2 per cent from 25.6 per cent over the identical interval.
The general GVO of agriculture and allied actions – which embody crops, livestock, forestry and logging, and fishing and aquaculture – was Rs 29.49 lakh crore in 2023-24, up from Rs 19.08 lakh crore in 2011-12. In line with MoSPI’s nationwide accounts knowledge, ‘agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing’ accounted for 14.7 per cent of the entire gross worth added within the nation in 2023-24. This edged down barely to 14.4 per cent in 2024-25.
Meat on the rise
Whereas milk retained its place as the highest contributor to the livestock class, its share has declined through the years to 65.9 per cent from 67.2 per cent. On the identical time, the share of meat has elevated to 24.1 per cent from 19.7 per cent.
“In livestock, the appliance of biotechnology and improved breeding methods has led to elevated productiveness and a better output of milk, meat, and different animal merchandise. Moreover, this sector has seen rising investments in infrastructure, akin to chilly chains and veterinary companies, which have improved animal well being and product high quality,” the MoSPI report mentioned.
The rising share of meat within the GVO of livestock in addition to agriculture and allied actions comes at a time when India’s exports of meat have been rising. In 2023-24, India’s meat exports amounted to $3.83 billion, up 17 per cent from the earlier 12 months.
Export of buffalo meat, which accounts for 98 per cent of India’s outbound meat shipments, rose by 17.1 per cent in 2023-24 to $3.74 billion, with Uttar Pradesh having a share of almost 60 per cent. “As per the International Commerce Coverage, export of beef which incorporates meat and edible offal of cows, oxen and calves is prohibited. The division isn’t in receipt of any State laws impacting meat exports,” Commerce and Trade Minister Piyush Goyal had mentioned in response to a query within the Rajya Sabha in December 2024.
Declining crop share
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With the share of livestock and different segments rising through the years, the contribution of crops to the GVO of agriculture and allied actions has declined, though it stays “the spine of Indian agriculture” with its share in 2023-24 at 54.1 per cent, down from 62.4 per cent in 2011-12.
“The info highlights a gradual diversification throughout the agricultural economic system, reflecting altering demand patterns, coverage assist, and technological enhancements,” the statistics ministry mentioned in its report.
Cereals and fruit and veggies made up greater than half of crop GVO, with the statistics ministry noting that the share of ‘spices and condiments’ had elevated from 3.9 per cent in 2011-12 to five.9 per cent in 2023-24, “suggesting rising home and export demand for spices, probably aided by improved processing and branding”.
Inside fruits, the GVO of bananas was the most important for the second 12 months in a row after it ended the dominance of mangoes in 2022-23. Nonetheless, mangoes clawed again some floor in 2023-24, with their GVO rising 6.7 per cent to Rs 46,050 crore, whereas that of bananas was up a smaller 4.4 per cent at Rs 46,996 crore.