Animal Husbandary Department

1.1 Primary Information about the Department:

From Subhanmangal at Shirwal, Pratapgad, capital Ajinkyatara to Date Gad, Mahiman Gad, this region of Sahyadri has witnessed and preserved the glorious history through numerous forts. From Gondavale, Shikhar Shinganapur to Sajjangad, Mandhragad, and the holy Mahabaleshwar, the people have maintained their reverence. This land is rich with reservoirs from Koyna, Kanher, Urmodi to Dhom, Balkavdi, and rivers like Krishna, Koyna, Urmodi, Kanher, Venna making it fertile. The region, stretching from Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar to Kas Plateau and the beautiful valleys of Patan, Koynanagar, is known for its abundant natural beauty. It supports numerous sugar factories providing justice to countless sugarcane farms. Various dairy institutions such as Koyna, Venna, Ajinkya, Satara, Quality, Govind have established a “White Ganga” in the district. The wildlife sanctuaries and mountain peaks house numerous wild animals and improve the livelihood of thousands of livestock keepers managing cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, poultry, horses, pigs, dogs, cats, making the district a blend of historical and modern.

Animal husbandry is a significant supplementary occupation for the majority of the masses here. For many, this supplementary occupation has become a primary one, and the Animal Husbandry Department of Zilla Parishad Satara supports their advancement with various schemes, medical treatments, fodder development, and technical guidance. Through 171 hospitals operated by the department, Veterinary Officers (Animal Husbandry Development Officers) and Livestock Supervisors provide continuous service. As a result, cattle rearing, buffalo rearing, poultry farming, pig rearing, dog rearing, fodder development, dairy, silage production, and related businesses have flourished with substantial contributions from the department.

Under the control of the Secretary (Post), as the head of the department, the Commissioner of Animal Husbandry administers the department from the headquarters in Pune. The Animal Disease Investigation Department, Pune-411067, the Animal Bio-Products Manufacturing Institute Pune-411007, and other major institutes are also under the administration and control of the Commissioner’s office. Similarly, the Commissioner’s office controls and administers regional and district-level offices. To achieve the main objectives and schemes of animal husbandry, the state is divided into seven regions, each headed by a Regional Joint Commissioner of Animal Husbandry. At the district level, the control and administration are managed by the Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry and the District Animal Husbandry Officer.

In Satara district, Livestock Development Officers (Extension) from 11 Panchayat Samitis guide livestock keepers in animal husbandry and promote various schemes. Hospitals under Zilla Parishad provide necessary veterinary services and preventive vaccinations through the heads of these institutions. Various schemes related to animal husbandry by the government and Zilla Parishad are implemented. Various training camps are organized to increase livestock and production in the district, and essential services are provided through field campaign camps at the village level.

1.2 Vision and Mission:

Providing healthcare services to livestock through improved technology of animal husbandry and implementing personal benefit schemes of the animal husbandry department. Preparing livestock keepers to become livestock entrepreneurs and ensuring economic and nutritional development in the district.

1.3 Objectives and Functions:

Providing animal husbandry services to livestock keepers in the district is the primary function of the Animal Husbandry Department, Zilla Parishad Satara. This is achieved through various institutions under the department by implementing schemes and development-related plans through district self-funding. Key aspects of the department’s main functions include:

• Effective implementation of animal breeding policies – Increasing productivity by genetic improvement of livestock through artificial insemination.
• Protecting livestock from diseases and increasing milk production, egg production, meat, wool, and other animal products.
• Providing supplementary income and self-employment opportunities to rural farmers and needy beneficiaries by distributing milch animals, goat groups, and poultry birds.
• Increasing the availability of fodder and animal feed for livestock.
• Ensuring the availability of vaccines for livestock and conducting vaccinations.
• Providing information about animal husbandry schemes to livestock keepers under publicity and promotional programs, and implementing the district training policy.
• Providing necessary manpower and infrastructure to modernize and speed up animal husbandry and administrative services.
• Implementing animal husbandry-related schemes in the district with the help of district veterinary hospitals.

1.4 Administrative Setup:

The department’s administrative setup under the Commissioner of Animal Husbandry in Pune controls and administers regional and district-level offices, ensuring the effective implementation of animal husbandry policies and schemes throughout the district.