'AP must focus on dairy livestock development'

Andhra Pradesh has to take steps to develop its dairy livestock, Jairam Ramesh, Congress member of Parliament representing Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha and a leading economist, said.

Speaking at the launch of IndiaGen, Ramesh said that the state, which was once considered very good in terms of dairy livestock management, has slipped considerably in the last two decades.

According to him, more emphasis needs to be given to dairy, as it will lead to rural prosperity.

"Livestock contributes around six per cent of the total GDP and employees around nine million people. It is four times the size of IT in terms of contribution to the GDP and eight times more in terms of employment," he said.

However, the sector receives very little attention," Ramesh said.