Department of Animal Husbandry (Kerala)
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Kerala |
| Headquarters | Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram – 695033, Kerala, India |
| Minister responsible |
|
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | https://ahd.kerala.gov.in/ |
The Department of Animal Husbandry or Animal Husbandry Department is an administrative department of the Government of Kerala. The department is responsible for formulating and implementing policies aimed at the development of the field of animal husbandry. It has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.[1]
Leadership
The department is headed by a Cabinet Minister of the Government of Kerala. The incumbent Minister for Animal Husbandry is J. Chinchu Rani.[2][3][4][5]
The department is administratively headed by a Secretary to Government, an IAS officer. The secretary is assisted by additional secretaries, joint secretaries, deputy secretaries and under secretaries.[1]
The functions of the department are carried out through various line departments and organizations.[6]
Objectives
The Department of Animal Husbandry has the following objectives:[7]
- Providing Veterinary Service
- Production of Veterinary Biologicals
- Control of Zoonotic Diseases
- Cross breeding-Artificial insemination
- Propagation of small ruminants
- Propagation of backyard poultry
- Conservation of indigenous breeds
- Extension and Training
- Animal Welfare
- Research and Development
Functions
The department maintains veterinary clinics and dispensaries, encourages the expansion of poultry, pig, and livestock farming, controls dry stock farms, monitors laws pertaining to the cruelty to animals. The department is also responsible for the enforcement of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act).[8]
Line departments
- Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Kerala[9]
The Directorate of Animal Husbandry is headed by a Director. The director is the head of the department. The director is assisted by two additional directors and three joint directors, six deputy directors and five assistant directors, attached to the headquarters. The Directorate's main technical wings include Veterinary Services and Animal Health, Planning, Livestock Production, Poultry, and Animal Husbandry Statistics.
The responsibility of district level Animal Husbandry activities is vested with the District Animal Husbandry Officer (DAHO) in the cadre of Joint Director.
The department has 14 District Veterinary Centers, 50 Veterinary polyclinics, 215 Veterinary Hospitals, 885 Veterinary Dispensaries, 38 regional AH centre, 9 mobile veterinary hospitals, 7 Mobile Farm Aid Units, 1 motor boat veterinary hospital and 1359 Veterinary sub centers. For the veterinary service, it has a three tier system with well equipped district veterinary centers followed by Veterinary poly clinics and Veterinary hospitals/dispensaries.[10]
Other institutions
- Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
- College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy
- Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Palode
- State Institute for Animal Diseases, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram
See also
- Department of Agriculture Development & Farmers' Welfare (Kerala)
- Department of Dairy Development (Kerala)
References
- ^ a b "Rules of Business of the Government of Kerala: Part II – First Schedule (See Rule 4)" (PDF). General Administration Department, Government of Kerala. Government of Kerala. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
- ^ "Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development for Kerala inaugurates Regional Review Meeting for Animal Husbandry and Dairy sector for Southern States/UTs in Thiruvananthapuram today". Press Information Bureau of India.
- ^ "J. Chinchu Rani: Kerala's New Animal Husbandry And Dairy Development Minister". Yahoo News. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
- ^ "Kerala first State to launch Ksheerasree portal: Minister". The Hindu. 26 September 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
- ^ Kumar, Dileep V. (19 November 2025). "Kerala begins review of Seeds Bill 2025 amid opposition to 'pro-corporate' legislation". The South First | News, Politics, Sports, Entertainment & Live Updates. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
- ^ "Animal husbandry department launches mobile veterinary surgery unit in Thiruvananthapuram". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
- ^ "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan (2017-2022): Working Group on Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development including Veterinary Research" (PDF). Thirteenth Five-Year Plan (2017-2022), Agriculture Division. Kerala State Planning Board.
- ^ Service, Express News (17 July 2025). "Kerala to enforce euthanasia under PCA rules; launch mobile ABC units amid stray dog scare". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
- ^ "Directorate of Animal Husbandry". ahd.kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
- ^ "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan (2017-2022): Working Group on Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development including Veterinary Research" (PDF). Thirteenth Five-Year Plan (2017-2022), Agriculture Division. Kerala State Planning Board.