Animal husbandry pangs for agriculture sector

Gross value added (GVA) in agriculture and allied activities for the first quarter of 2017-18 (April-June) slid unexpectedly to 2.3 per cent from 5.2 per cent in the previous quarter. Despite bumper grain and horticulture production, livestock and animal husbandry sectors played spoilsport. 

The growth of agriculture and allied activities during the corresponding period of 2016-17 was 2.5 per cent. 

The livestock, forestry and fishing sector, which has a combined share of 43.1 per cent in agriculture GVA, grew at 3.4 per cent during April-June quarter of 2017-18.

“Agriculture GVA grew 2.3 per cent in Q1 versus 2.5 per cent last year as