Kamadhenu at FAO: India's dairy heritage finds a place on the global agricultural map

Dairy, Livestock & Fisheries

New Delhi: India's rich agricultural and dairy heritage has received international recognition, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) formally accepting a Kamadhenu sculpture for inclusion in the permanent collection of its Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (FAO MuNe) in Rome. The sculpture, gifted by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), represents India's longstanding cultural and agricultural relationship with livestock. The formal acceptance was conveyed through a letter from the FAO Deputy Director-General, following the endorsement of the organisation's Consultative Committee on Art Donations. FAO recognised the sculpture's alignment with the museum's mission to celebrate agricultural heritage, cultural traditions and sustainable agrifood systems across the world. However, the significance of this development extends beyond the inclusion of an Indian sculpture in an international museum. It brings attention to the historical relationship between cattle, agriculture and rural livelihoods in India. Kamadhenu, traditionally revered in Indian culture as a symbol of abundance, nourishment and prosperity, holds a significant place in the country's cultural traditions. The symbolism also reflects the importance of cattle in India's agrarian society, where livestock has historically supported farming households through milk production, nutrition and supplementary...