Lok Sabha Question No. 329 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Preservation of Siri Cow Breed
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

LOKSABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION No. 329 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  NOVEMBER 2021

## PRESERVATION OF SIRI COW BREED

## 329.   SHRI RAJU BISTA:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपाऱन , पशुपाऱन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  towards  genetic  improvement  and preservation of Siri Cow breed, cattle breed of hilly region of the States of West Bengal and Sikkim;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  provides  loan  at  lower  rates  of  interest  or  without  interest  to promote dairy and animal husbandry;
- (c) if so, the details thereof including the criteria fixed for availing financial assistance; and (d)  the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  credit  flow  the  promotion  of dairy and animal husbandry?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF  FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) Yes Sir, the Department has been implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission since 2014 with focus on development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds including Siri breed of cattle from Sikkim and Siliguri of West Bengal. Following are the specific efforts made for development  and  conservation  of  Siri  breed  of  cattle:  (i)  four  pockets  in  each  district  of Sikkim has been recognised as Intensive Siri Conservation Breeding Area (ISCBA) wherein Artificial Insemination as well as natural breeding is  undertaken with semen of Siri  breed of cattle and bulls for natural service.
2. Funds are released under Rashtriya Gokul Mission for induction of Siri bulls for natural service in the breeding tract of Siri breed of cattle. Bull keepers of Siri bulls are given grant of Rs.1000/ month for bull maintenance by the State Government of Sikkim.
3.  Funds  are  released  under  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  for  undertaking  Field  Performance Recording in the breeding tract of Siri breed of cattle.  Transport subsidy for transportation of milk produced from Siri cows has been made available by the State Government of Sikkim in-order to promote Siri cattle rearing.
4. Paschim Banga Gosampad Bikas Sanstha of West Bengal has inducted high genetic merit bulls of Siri breed of cattle at semen station for production of quality semen doses.

(b) to (d) The following schemes has been implemented by the Department to provide loans at lower rate of interest and to increase the credit flow for promoting animal husbandry and dairying in the country:

1.  Entrepreneurship  model  has  been  developed  for  establishment  of  breed  multiplication farms for making available high genetic merit heifers (HGM) to farmers to fulfil the need of general shortage of such animals. Under the component 50% of capital subsidy is being made available to interested entrepreneurs for construction of cattle sheds, equipment, procurement of  elite  animals  etc.  The  entrepreneur  will  establish  breed  multiplication  farm  (BMF)  and produce elite heifers using sex sorted semen or IVF technology.

2. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) - Under this scheme  any individual,  FPO,  private  Companies,  Section  8  companies,  MSME  can  avail  credit  facility from  any  scheduled  Bank  for  establishment  of  Dairy  Processing  and  value  addition infrastructure, Meat processing and value addition infrastructure, animal feed plant and breed improvement  farms  for  cattle,  sheep,  goat,  pig  and  poultry  with  updated  technology.  The scheme envisages 3% interest subvention to the beneficiaries availing credit under AHIDF. The  Credit  Guarantee  up  to  25%  of  the  Credit  is  being  provided  for  which  the  Central Government has  established  Credit  Guarantee  Fund  Trust  with  Rs.  750  crore  managed  by NABARD. The Eligible Beneficiaries are entitled to avail up to 90% credit facility with no upper and lower limits.

3. National Livestock Mission: Under this scheme 50% subsidy has been made available for establishment of sheep and Goat breeder farms, breed development of Rural backyard poultry and for feed and fodder development under entrepreneurship model.

4.  One  time  support  in  the  form  of  Interest  subvention  on  working  capital  loans  has  been introduced  for  the  financial  year  2020-21  under  ongoing  scheme  Support  to  State  Dairy Cooperative & Farmers Producers Organization scheme (SDCFPO).

5.  Dairy  Processing  and  Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (DIDF)-  This    scheme  is  being implemented  with  the  objective  of  Creation/  strengthening  of  Milk  Processing,  Value addition  &  chilling  facilities  with  total  outlay  of  Rs.  11,184  crore.  Under  the  scheme, NABARD raises the fund from market and  disburse loan  to  National  Dairy  Development Board  (NDDB)/  National  Cooperative  Development  Cooperation  (NCDC) which  is  then disbursed by  NDDB /NCDC to end Borrowers . GoI provides 2.5% interest subvention to National  Bank  for  Agriculture  and  Rural  Development  (NABARD).  Financial  assistance under DIDF will be given to those who are making profit and is having positive net worth.

6. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing National Programme for Dairy Development scheme since 2014-15 with the objective to create dairy infrastructure for procurement, processing and marketing of milk and milk products.

7. Kisan Credit Card (KCC) - Government has extended KCC facility to Animal Husbandry farmers and Fisheries farmers for their working capital requirements wherein farmers either individual  or  joint  borrower,  Joint  Liability  Groups  or  Self  Help  Groups  including  tenant farmers having owned/rented/leased sheds are eligible for getting benefits under the scheme.