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Sustainable animal agriculture takes centre stage at CLFMA meet
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Wednesday, 16 September, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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The Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association (CLFMA) of India concluded its 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 67th National Symposium on September 11 and 12, 2026, at The Leela Mumbai. Held under the theme ‘Animal Agriculture – The Backbone of Sustainable Development’, the two-day event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, farmers and allied stakeholders to deliberate on key priorities for the growth and sustainability of India’s animal agriculture sector.
In his Chairman’s Address, Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman, CLFMA of India, stressed the need to strengthen the foundations of animal agriculture through greater feed security, increased domestic production and closer collaboration across the value chain. Tarun Shridhar, IAS (Retd.), former Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, delivered the thematic address and highlighted the sector’s contribution to livelihoods, nutrition and economic development.
The symposium was attended by 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.
Gulati said the discussions reinforced the need to build a stronger ecosystem for animal agriculture as demand continues to grow. He emphasised strengthening domestic capabilities, improving value-chain efficiency and building resilience at the farm level through sustained engagement among industry, government, research institutions and farmers.
Gangwar highlighted the importance of stronger linkages across the livestock value chain, noting that greater coordination among farmers, feed manufacturers, processors, markets and policymakers would help address productivity and efficiency gaps. Dr Muthukumarasamy emphasised the need for sustained attention to genetics, animal health, quality feed, research and farmer capacity to improve productivity and resilience.
The symposium highlighted several priorities for the sector, including accelerating the transition towards enterprise-led livestock farming, strengthening market linkages and expanding farmer capabilities. Participants also called for greater veterinary capacity, including increased private-sector participation in veterinary education to address the shortage of trained professionals.
Feed security emerged as another key concern, particularly amid competing demand for maize and soybean from other industries. The discussions noted that poultry feed requirements currently stand at around 30 million tonnes, with demand increasing by approximately 3–3.5 million tonnes annually. With maize accounting for around 55% of poultry feed, improving its productivity and availability was identified as critical to sustaining poultry sector growth.
The event also recognised contributions to the animal agriculture sector through the CLFMA Awards and CLFMA Gold Medals. Jagbir Singh Dhull received the CLFMA Lifetime Achievement Award, while the CLFMA Gold Medals were presented to Dr Abhishek Venkat for the Poultry sector, Dr Mehnaaz Qayoom for the Dairy sector and Shreya Awasthi for the Aqua sector.
The CLFMA Souvenir 2026 and Survey Report 2026–2030 were also launched during the event, offering sector insights and supporting knowledge-sharing across the animal agriculture ecosystem.
The second day featured keynote presentations, policy discussions and panel sessions covering feed and raw material availability, innovation and technology adoption, international trade, pet food and the contribution of animal agriculture to global food security. Discussions also examined the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing productivity, decision-making and operational efficiency across the sector.
A dedicated ‘One Nation, One Voice’ panel brought together national industry associations to discuss greater alignment and coordinated policy advocacy. The sessions underlined the importance of continued government-industry engagement to address emerging challenges and create an enabling environment for sustainable growth.
The CLFMA delegation comprised Suresh Deora, Immediate Past Chairman; Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman; Sumit Sureka, Naveen Pasuparthy, Abhay Parnerkar and Abhay Shah, Deputy Chairmen; Nissar F. Mohammed, Hon. Secretary; and R. Ramkutty, Treasurer, CLFMA of India.
The two-day programme concluded with a valedictory session, with CLFMA reiterating its commitment to strengthening collaboration among industry, government, research institutions and farmers while supporting measures focused on feed security, animal health, productivity and innovation.
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