- Industry leaders and policymakers come together to address feed security, productivity, farmer resilience and sustainable growth in animal agriculture
- Two-day Mumbai gathering highlighted the need for stronger value chains, innovation and coordinated action across the sector
Mumbai: The Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association (CLFMA) of India successfully concluded its 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 67th National Symposium on 11th and 12th September 2026 at The Leela Mumbai. Themed ‘Animal Agriculture – The Backbone of Sustainable Development’, the two-day event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, farmers and allied stakeholders to discuss the priorities shaping the future of India’s animal agriculture sector.
The event commenced with the Chairman’s Address by Mr Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman, CLFMA of India, who outlined the need to strengthen the foundations of animal agriculture, particularly through greater feed security, domestic production and stronger collaboration across the value chain.
Setting the tone for the discussions, Shri Tarun Shridhar, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, delivered the thematic address, highlighting the sector’s role in strengthening livelihoods, nutrition and economic development.
The symposium was graced by eminent dignitaries, including Mr Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, AHD, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India; and Dr Muthukumarasamy B., Joint Secretary (NLM), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
Mr Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman, CLFMA of India, said, “The symposium has reinforced that the future of animal agriculture will be shaped by the strength of the ecosystem supporting it. As demand grows, we must strengthen domestic capabilities, improve the efficiency of the value chain and create greater resilience at the farm level. This calls for sustained engagement between industry, government, research institutions and farmers, with a shared focus on building a sector that can support livelihoods while meeting the country’s growing nutritional needs.”
Mr Naresh Pal Gangwar, Secretary, AHD, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, said, “The discussions have made clear that the next phase of growth in livestock will require stronger connections across the value chain. Farmers, feed manufacturers, processors, markets and policymakers each have a role to play, and greater coordination between them can help address gaps in productivity and efficiency. As consumption patterns evolve, a more integrated sector will be better placed to respond to demand and create greater value for those engaged in it.”
Dr Muthukumarasamy B., Joint Secretary (NLM), Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, said, “Improving productivity in animal agriculture requires a sustained focus on the fundamentals, from better genetics and animal health to quality feed, research and farmer capacity. The discussions have highlighted the need to take these priorities together rather than address them in isolation. Strengthening farmers’ ability to produce, manage and make better use of available resources will be an important part of building a more productive and resilient sector.”
The discussions also highlighted:
- The need to accelerate the shift towards enterprise-led livestock farming, with rising demand making productivity, farmer capabilities and stronger market linkages increasingly important.
- The need to expand veterinary capacity alongside the growth of the livestock sector, including greater participation from the private sector in veterinary education to address the shortage of trained professionals.
- The importance of improving feed security, particularly as maize and soybean face competing demand from other industries. Greater productivity and more reliable availability of these crops will be important to meet the sector’s growing requirements.
- The scale of the poultry feed requirement is around 30 million tonnes, with demand increasing by approximately 3–3.5 million tonnes annually. With maize accounting for around 55 per cent of poultry feed, improving its productivity and availability will be critical for sustaining poultry sector growth.
The symposium also recognised outstanding contributions to the sector through the prestigious CLFMA Awards and CLFMA Gold Medals. Mr Jagbir Singh Dhull was conferred the CLFMA Lifetime Achievement Award. The CLFMA Gold Medals were awarded to Dr Abhishek Venkat for the Poultry sector, Dr Mehnaaz Qayoom for the Dairy sector, and Ms Shreya Awasthi for the Aqua sector.
A special highlight of the event was the launch of the CLFMA Souvenir 2026 and Survey Report 2026–2030, providing sector insights and supporting knowledge-sharing across the animal agriculture ecosystem.
The second day featured keynote presentations, policy discussions and panel sessions covering key areas of animal agriculture, including feed and raw material availability, innovation and technology adoption, international trade, pet food and the sector’s contribution to global food security. Discussions also examined the role of Artificial Intelligence in improving productivity, decision-making and operational efficiency across the animal agriculture ecosystem.
A dedicated ‘One Nation, One Voice’ panel brought together national industry associations to discuss greater alignment within the sector and the importance of a coordinated approach to policy advocacy. The sessions highlighted the need for continued government-industry engagement to address emerging challenges and create an enabling environment for sustainable growth.
The CLFMA delegation included:
- Mr Suresh Deora, Immediate Past Chairman, CLFMA of India
- Mr Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman, CLFMA of India
- Mr Sumit Sureka, Deputy Chairman, CLFMA of India
- Mr Naveen Pasuparthy, Deputy Chairman, CLFMA of India
- Mr Abhay Parnerkar, Deputy Chairman, CLFMA of India
- Mr Abhay Shah, Deputy Chairman, CLFMA of India
- Mr Nissar F. Mohammed, Hon. Secretary, CLFMA of India
- Mr R. Ramkutty, Treasurer, CLFMA of India
The two-day programme concluded with the valedictory session, reinforcing the importance of collaboration across industry, government, research institutions and the farming community. CLFMA of India reiterated its commitment to facilitating informed dialogue and supporting practical measures that strengthen feed security, animal health, productivity and innovation across the sector.
