India has witnessed a myriad of revolutions in the agricultural and food processing industries. All these started with the green revolution. In the late 20th century, new equipment units and machinery were introduced to the Indian farmers to improve the production quality of cereals. After the huge success, several other revolutions spurred to life and brought different changes to the existing farming and food processing operations. One such revolution is the pink revolution in India. The colour is related to raw meat, as described by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The concept of the pink revolution was coined to support the changes in meat production, quality testing, and other such aspects.
What is the Pink Revolution in India?
The pink revolution is related to the adoption of new technologies and improvements in the existing processes of meat production. India ranks high in livestock production, farming, and meat processing. But due to the lack of proper technologies and a sustainable approach, the industry couldn’t work at its full potential. As a result, the export of meat to other countries wasn’t done in full swing. This is why the pink revolution in India is considered a game-changer for the country’s food processing industry.
Some facts about the Indian pink revolution that should be known are:
- According to reports, India is home to 58% of cattle in the entire world with buffalo being the main type. Proper technologies need to be put in place to use this number. This is possible only through the pink revolution.
- Thanks to the increasing demand for high-quality meat, the pink revolution in India ensured an incoming stream of employment for rural areas.
- Thanks to the geographical location, the pink revolution spurred life much earlier than expected and soon reached its zenith. It forms the major meat supplier to most gulf countries and East Asian countries.
- One of the major facts about the pink revolution that needs to be acknowledged is the absence of any complaints from the global market stating the export of contaminated bovine meat.
Driving Factors of the Pink Revolution in India
Now that we have established what the pink revolution is all about, let’s discuss the driving factors.
- India is a country of mixed cultures, and a couple of Indian states have emerged as the top meat producers, like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. As a result, meat production has increased over time to meet national and international consumption demands.
- The livestock species in India are unique and considered to have higher nutritional values than most other countries. This has further fueled the need to produce high-quality meat and live up to the expectations.
- With earlier farming and agricultural revolutions in India, the government could plan a proper improvement workflow of all types of technologies used in meat production.
- Another driving force of the Indian pink revolution is the lower bovine meat production costs that have helped the exporters sell meat at a much more considerable price. Now, when other countries receive such high-quality raw meat at a low price, the demand will automatically increase.
- Also, no livestock is bred for meat production in India. Rather, it is considered a by-product of cattle and livestock farming. For instance, we need buffaloes for farming and other agricultural purposes. When the animals are no longer efficient, they are sent to slaughterhouses to control the population and increase meat production.
Government Regulations Pertaining to the Indian Pink Revolution
As the pink revolution is related to technology to improve meat production in India, the government has levied a couple of rules to keep everything in check. These are:
- The meat processing sector will be allowed a 100% FDI.
- All producers and exporters will be exempt from tax and excise duties.
- There will be no restrictions on the export of meat to other countries.
- Recently, the government has launched a comprehensive rulebook to keep track of animal wastes and other attributes.
- Modernisation of slaughterer houses will be initiated, and one can apply for subsidy in the concerned context.
Conclusion
The pink revolution in India has brought several changes to the Indian meat processing industry. Introduced back in 2014, the revolution ensured that the country could utilise its full potential to improve livestock production and meat processing. With the help of new techniques and machinery units, quality meat can be produced and further exported to other countries at a considerable price. This revolution has brought a dynamic rise in the Indian agriculture and farming economy, providing the government with more opportunities to increase meat production but not at the sacrifice of quality.