ILRI in South Asia
H Rahman
Regional Representative for South Asia, ILRI New Delhi
ILRI Institute Planning Meeting, Addis Ababa, 17-19 September 2019
Better lives through livestock…………

South Asia
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
• 5.1 million km²
• 3.4% world land area
• 11.51% of Asia
• 1.92 billion (2019)
• 1/4 world’s population
• 43 % of Asia Population
• 25% BPL
• 75% BPL in villages
• Livestock – 18.43%
CHALLENGE: Enhancing Food & Nutritional Security with SUSTAINABILITY
South Asia: A Backdrop
South Asia

Livestock Population – Global share of South AsiaSpecies Livestock Population (In million) Share of South Asian
livestock towards global
population (%)
South Asia Global
Cattle 255.80 998.30 25.62
Buffalo 140.97 177.25 79.53
Goat 236.25 1034.00 22.85
Sheep 117.64 1000.00 11.76
Pig 11.28 769.05 01.47
Camel 1.30 35.00 03.71
Equine 5.97 140.38 04.25
Mithun 0.26 0.30 86.67
Yak 0.08 22.0 00.36
Total
Livestock
769.55 4176.28 18.43
Poultry 1080.73 23000.00 4.70
Livestock Population – Global share of South Asia

p
Contribution of Livestock in National and Agricultural GDP
with Employment Opportunity
Source: SAARC & Country Data
3.8
2.5
3.9
4.6
12
11
0.6
23
14
16.2
25.5
30
56
7.8
10
20
15
35
40
30
5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Contribution in
National GDP
Share in
Livestock GDP
Employment
Opportunity
Inpercentage
Agricultural GDP

ILRI in South Asia

Research priority:
Food security : sustainable intensification of crop-livestock Systems
Nutritional security : animal source foods
Health security : prevention of animal-human disease risks
Food safety : animal source food
• Contribution to policies with strategic partnership for joint
science and larger impact
• Capacity development of state/national actors and key
stakeholders in India (main research hub), Nepal, Pakistan,
Bangladesh & Bhutan
ILRI Strategies – South Asia

ILRI – SOUTH ASIA
• Date of start :2004
• Branch office status :2011
• Staff :Regional Representative
:3 Scientists (India)
:1 (Pakistan)

 Livestock is extremely livelihood intensive:
(80 million in India and in 8 million in Pakistan and In 70% in
population in Bangladesh directly/indirectly depend on livestock)
Growing demand for animal source food (milk, beef
mutton, pork, egg),
Growing interest in indigenous animals and demand
for traditional livestock products
Increasing awareness on food safety (antibiotic
residue, adulteration of milk, aflatoxin, meat hygiene)
ILRIs Opportunities in South Asia

Success story of Regional program
(India, Bangladesh, Nepal
Development of Livestock
Master Plan - Bihar (India)
Pig Breeding Policy- Nagaland
(India)

 Low investment in Livestock sector in the region
Smallholder spread and outreach
 Technology mindset, Adoption a developmental issue
 Market access of remote rural livestock keepers
 Reducing interest of international donors (India
specific)
ILRI South Asia - Challenges

ILRI – SOUTH ASIA – RECOMMENDATION TO GROW
• Aligning ILRI competence with donor priorities
• Developing proposals jointly with national actors
considering national priorities
• Developing Technology Platforms in the region
(jointly managed by ILRI and national partners)
• Attracting youth in Animal Agriculture (60% vs 5%)

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