Why Is The Cow The Backbone Of Indian Economy?

India has an been agrarian country and the Cow has been its backbone. In this article, we explore the role cow plays in Indian economy.

Woman milking a water buffalo in Haryana

Stating the importance of bovines in India, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued a notice requesting people to celebrate "Cow Hug Day" on February 14. Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14 every year. 

In its notice, AWBI secretary Dr SK Dutta said, "We all know that the Cow is the backbone of Indian culture and rural economy, sustains our life, represent cattle wealth and biodiversity."

"It is known as 'Kamdhenu' and 'Gaumata' because of its nourishing nature like mother, the giver of all providing riches to humanity," Dr Dutta further stated.

India has an been agrarian country and the Cow has been its backbone. When fertilizers and tractors were unknown, cow was the only source sustaining the country's agriculture sector.

In 1946, the Cow Conference was held in Amritsar. It laid great emphasis on the place animals hold in our rural economy.

According to a World Bank report, 64.61 per cent of our population resides in villages and thrives on agriculture.

Let’s explore the economics:

Increasing Crop Yield As A Fertiliser

Farmers have been using cow manure as compost for several years due to its ability to fertilise the soil and improve crop quality. As per research, a single cow can generate 9-15 kg dung per day. Moreoever, unlike tractors, while plowing, cow and oxen move with gentle gait, not harming the surface of the earth. Dung from one cow is adequate to fertilize 5 acres of land, while its urine can protect 10 acres of crop from insects

Capital spent on tractors can be saved by using bullocks. Tractors can be used for plowing and harvesting, while cattle can be used to draw water, and transport goods and people.

Between 1942-1947, AR Khan, the agronomy specialist of the Indian Agricultural Institute in Delhi, conducted experiments comparing the use of tractors and bullocks on a portion of land. It was found that with tractor, the average yield was 10.98 maunds per acre while using bull yielded an average of 12.65 maunds per acre.

Making A Global Mark In Dairy Production

Today, India is the largest producer of milk in the world, contributing to 23% of global milk production. In the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit 2022 in Noida, PM Modi stated that India produces 210 million tonnes of milk.

India has also emerged as a net exporter of dairy products. India’s dairy production has played an important role in the expansion of the global dairy market and private-sector processors have the potential to catalyze production of milk and dairy products alike.