The conferment of the Padma Bhushan on Dr S. K. M. Myilanandhan (popularly known as SKM) marks a significant moment not only for the poultry industry, but for India’s broader livestock and animal nutrition ecosystem. The award recognises decades of institution-building, entrepreneurial foresight and sectoral leadership that have helped shape modern feed systems in the country.
Dr Myilanandhan’s contribution extends well beyond business success. His work has been instrumental in professionalising India’s compound feed industry, introducing scientific nutrition practices, and strengthening linkages between feed manufacturing, poultry production and allied livestock sectors, including dairy.
Driving Scientific Feed Practices
One of the defining aspects of Dr Myilanandhan’s legacy has been the emphasis on science-led nutrition. At a time when traditional feeding practices dominated much of Indian livestock production, his efforts helped promote balanced feed formulations, quality control standards and efficiency-oriented production models.
This shift has had far-reaching implications. Improved feed quality and nutritional precision have contributed to better feed conversion ratios, enhanced productivity, and more predictable performance in poultry and livestock systems. Such advancements have also indirectly supported the dairy sector, where nutrition remains a critical determinant of milk yield and animal health.
Institution-Building and Sectoral Organisation
Beyond technical innovation, Dr Myilanandhan has played a central role in building institutions that support long-term industry growth. From developing integrated business models to fostering industry platforms that encourage knowledge exchange, his leadership has strengthened the structural foundations of India’s animal nutrition sector.
These institutions have enabled the scaling of best practices, encouraged investment in research and development, and created stronger value chain linkages between farmers, feed producers and market players. In a sector often characterised by fragmentation, this degree of organisation has been vital in improving efficiency and resilience.
Bridging Poultry, Livestock and Dairy Systems
Although widely associated with the poultry industry, Dr Myilanandhan’s influence resonates across livestock segments. The evolution of India’s feed industry under leaders such as him has created spillover benefits for dairy, aquaculture, and other animal production systems that rely on high-quality nutritional inputs.
By advocating integrated approaches to animal agriculture, he has contributed to a more interconnected livestock economy, one where advancements in feed science and supply chains support productivity gains across species.
A National Recognition of Agribusiness Leadership
The Padma Bhushan honour underscores the growing recognition of agribusiness leadership as a pillar of national development. Leaders like Dr Myilanandhan demonstrate how private-sector initiative, when aligned with farmers’ interests and scientific progress, can drive structural transformation in agriculture.
His journey reflects the evolution of India’s livestock sector from small-scale, unorganised systems towards more technology-driven, commercially viable models that still depend fundamentally on farmer participation.
As India continues to focus on protein security, export competitiveness and sustainable livestock growth, the contributions of pioneers in animal nutrition and feed systems remain central. The recognition bestowed upon Dr S. K. M. Myilanandhan stands as both a tribute to past achievements and a signal of the sector’s strategic importance to the nation’s agricultural future.
