Lok Sabha Question No. 2625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-14
Subject: MoU for Cooperation in Livestoc Sector
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2625 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2021

## MOU FOR COOPERATION IN LIVESTOC SECTOR

2625.   SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA: SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालनऔरडेयरीमंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Department  of  Animal  Husbandryand  Dairying  (DAHD)  has  entered  into  any agreementwith the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation forcooperation in the livestock sector of India;
- (b) if so, the objectives thereof;
- (c)  the  details  of  benefit  the  country  is  likely  to  getfrom  this  agreement  including  the  State  of Gujarat; and
- (d) the way through which more expansion of the dairy industry of the State of Gujarat can be done?

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## ANSWER (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (c):  An MoU was signed between the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying and the  Bill  &  Melinda  Gates  Foundation  (BMGF)  on  22 nd September,  2021,  to  collaborate  in furtherance of their mutual objectives of sustainably improving the livestock  sector to support India's food security and economic development agendas.  As per MOU, the collaboration with Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation would provide technical assistance for the design and delivery of new technologies and implementation of best practices that are relevant in the local context. This  engagement  would  support  India's  overall  One  Health  framework  and  provide  technical support  for  establishing  the  platform.Further,  the  MOU  would  jointly  support  programmes  to improve sector productivity in support of small-scale producers:-

- (a) to improve livestock health, production, and animal nutrition
- (b) to identify scientific and technological solutions for major infectious diseases including, but not limited to vaccines and diagnostics for animal health;
- (c) to strengthen translation capacity in India and as appropriate to collaborate to apply this capacity
- (d) to  identify  projects  that  will  create  scientific  and  technological  advances  related  to livestock, food and nutrition through improvements in livestock sector
- (e) to  identify  opportunities  for  scientific  and  technological  collaboration  to  benefit  smallscale producers in India and other developing countries in the region
- (f) to  strengthen  the  One  Health  framework along key  aspects  (disease  monitoring,  R&D, and digital infrastructure to promote integration and growth in the sector)
- (g) to strengthen technical capabilities around  traceability of livestock and livestock products, value addition of livestock products, marketing solutions (like e-platforms), and disease reporting

The  MOU  inter-alia  states  that  the  Scope  of  technical  cooperation  may  be  amended (added/deleted/modified) from time to time during the tenure of the MOU to accommodate for cooperation in new and emerging areas.

(d):To  promote  the  dairy  industry  across  the  country  including  the  State  of  Gujarat,  the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been supplementing the efforts of States by implementing the following dairy development schemes:-

- (1) National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)
- (2) Dairy processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF)
- (3) Supporting  Dairy  Cooperatives  and  Farmer  Producer  Organizations  engaged  in  dairy activities (SDCFPO)

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