Welcome to AICRP on Mechanization of Animal Husbandry (MAH)
To increase the utilization of draught animal power and to study different aspects scientifically, the ICAR sanctioned an ad-hoc coordinated project on “Increased Utilization of Animal Energy with Enhanced System Efficiency” in 1985, which became a regular All India Coordinated Research Project of ICAR from July 1987. As per SFC 2021-26, the scheme is renamed to All India Coordinated Research Project on Mechanization of Animal Husbandry (MAH) with the Coordinating Cell at ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal vide No. 13-34/2012-Rectt/UAE E-file-261798 dated 01.07.2024 and nine Cooperating Centers located at ICAR-CIAE Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), MPUAT Udaipur (Rajasthan), GBPUAT Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), UAS Raichur (Karnataka), VNMAU Parbhani (Maharashtra), IGKV Raipur (Chhatisgarh), OUAT Bhubaneswar (Odisha), ICAR-NDRI Karnal (Haryana) and CAU-CAEPHT Gangtok (Sikkim).
The project with its coordinating centre have devoted to animal based agricultural mechanization through development of machines, gadgets and technology to harness animal energy for on-farm and off-farm operations. The project has also given technology for use of animal energy in off-field operations like agro processing. While designing various systems, comfort and safety of the animal is also taken care of. An estimated benefit due to use of improved animal drawn technologies, developed under this project, is about Rs. 100 Crore per annum over the traditional practices.
Now, AICRP on Mechanization of Animal husbandry with cooperating centres located across the country is devoted to address the problems of mechanization for feeding, watering, milking, barn cleaning, environmentally controlled housing etc., in the livestock farms and efficient utilization of draft animals in agriculture and allied sectors through major thrust areas namely; mechanization of small scale dairy units and poultry houses; hill and small farm mechanization to enhance farmers’ income; equipment for handling of animal-wastes and improved housing; frontline demonstration on improved animal drawn implements & training to farmers on improved technologies.
Project Coordinator’s Message
Agriculture and animals are also well mentioned in our Vedas and Samhita that represents the happiness and prosperity to the society and people. The contribution of livestock in total agriculture and allied sector GVA (at constant prices) has increased from 24.32% in 2014-15 to 30.13% in 2020-21. Livestock sector contributed 4.90% of total GVA in 2020-21. Number of cattle (including milch cattle), buffaloes, mithun, yak, horses & ponies, donkeys, camel, sheep, goat and pigs in the country are 193.46, 109.85, 0.39, 0.058, 0.34, 0.084, 0.12, 0.25, 74.26, 148.88 and 9.08 million, respectively (Livestock census, 2019).
