Lok Sabha Question No. 4185 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Cattle Breed under Rashtriya Gokul Mission
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal, Shri Malaiyarasan D

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4185 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  AUGUST 2025

## CATTLE BREED UNDER RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION

4185. SHRI MALAIYARASAN D: SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  objectives  and  key  components  of  the  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  (RGM)  and  aim  of  RGM  at conservation and development of indigenous cattle breeds;
- (b) the total number of Gokul Grams and bull mother farms established in the country, State wise, including Tamil Nadu;
- (c) the impact of the Mission on improving the productivity and health of indigenous cattle breeds;
- (d)  the  financial  assistance  and  technical  support  provided  by  the  Government  to  farmers  and  dairy cooperatives under the Mission;
- (e) whether the Government has any plans to expand or modify the Rashtriya Gokul Mission in the future years to further support indigenous breed conservation, if so, the details thereof;
- (f) the status of the implementation of the RGM including progress in conserving indigenous bovine breed, enhancing productivity and establishing Gokul Grams; and
- (g) the strategies undertaken by the Government to enhance fodder availability and nutritional security for livestock, including promotion of high-yield fodder varieties and silage infrastructure?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(PROF. S. P. SINGH BAGHEL)

- (a) to (f) Government of India is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) since December 2014 to complement  and  supplement  the  efforts  of  the  State  and  Union  Territories  for  development  and conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity thereby making milk production more remunerative to farmers.

The Scheme is being implemented with the following aims and objectives:

- (i) To enhance productivity of bovines and increasing milk production in a sustainable manner using advance technologies
- (ii) To propagate use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes.
- (iii) To  enhance  Artificial  insemination  coverage  through  strengthening  breeding  network  and delivery of Artificial insemination services at farmers doorstep
- (iv) To promote indigenous cattle & buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.

The implementation status of the key components of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, along with the financial and technical assistance extended to farmers engaged in dairying under the scheme, is as follows:

- (i) Nationwide  Artificial  Insemination  Programme:  The  programme  aims  at  enhancing  AI coverage and to deliver quality Artificial Insemination Services (AI) at farmer's doorstep with semen of high genetic merit bulls including indigenous breeds. The progress of the programme is  uploaded in real time on Bharat Pashudhan/NDLM (National Digital Livestock Mission), ensuring transparency in artificial insemination services and in tracking the farmers benefitting from the programme. As on date 9.16 crore animals have been covered, 14.12 crores Artificial Insemination have been performed and 5.54 crores farmers benefitted under the programme. Income  of  the  participating  farmers  is  expected  to  increase  with  the  enhancement  in productivity.
- (ii) Sex Sorted Semen: Sex-sorted semen technology has been introduced in the country to ensure production of female calves with up to 90% accuracy. This technology is a game-changer, as it not only enhances milk production but also helps in reducing the stray cattle population. For the first time in India, facilities established under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission have successfully produced  sex-sorted  semen  of  indigenous  cattle  breeds.  These  facilities  are  located  at  five government semen stations in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. In addition, three private semen stations are also engaged in the production of sexsorted semen doses. So far, 1.25 crore doses have been produced using high genetic merit bulls, including those from indigenous breeds.

Accelerated  Breed  Improvement  Programme  using  sex  sorted  semen:  Sex  sorted  semen  of indigenous breeds is promoted under the programme. Under the component incentive upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen on assured pregnancy is made available to farmers.

- (iii) MultiPurpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRI's):  MAITRIs are trained and equipped to deliver quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers' doorstep. Under the scheme assistance of Rs 31000 is made available for training and Rs 50,000 is made available for equipment. As on date, 38,736 MAITRIs have been trained and equipped.
- (iv) Implementation of in-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Technology: For the first time in the country, bovine IVF technology has been promoted for the development and conservation of indigenous breeds. The Department has established 23 IVF laboratories across India for this purpose. From these laboratories, 26,999 viable embryos have been produced, of which 15,005 embryos have been transferred, resulting in the birth of 2,366 calves.

The  Accelerated  Breed  Improvement  Programme,  leveraging  IVF  technology,  has  been launched to take advanced breeding methods to farmers' doorsteps, with an incentive of Rs. 5,000  provided  for  every  assured  pregnancy.  The  programme,  aimed  at  promoting  the development  of  indigenous  breeds,  has  so  far  resulted  in  the  transfer  of  6,637  embryos, establishment of 1,247 pregnancies, and the birth of 785 calves, including 731 female calves.

- (v) Progeny  testing  and  Pedigree  selection  programme:  This  programme  aims  to  produce  high genetic merit bulls, including bulls of indigenous breeds. Progeny testing is implemented for Gir, Sahiwal breeds of cattle, and Murrah, Mehsana breeds of buffaloes. Under the Pedigree selection programme Rathi, Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrej breeds of cattle and Jaffarabadi, Nili Ravi, Pandharpuri and Banni breeds of buffalo are covered.  Disease free high genetic merit bulls of indigenous breeds produced under the programme are made available to semen stations across the country. So far, 4243 high genetic merit bulls have been produced and made available to semen stations for semen production.
- (vi) Strengthening of semen stations to achieve qualitative and quantitative improvement in semen production including semen of indigenous breeds. So far, strengthening of 47 semen stations have been sanctioned.
- (vii) Under  the  scheme,  fertility  camps,  milk  yield  competitions,  calf  rallies,  farmers'  training programmes, seminars,  workshops, and conclaves have been organized  to create  awareness among farmers about the importance of indigenous bovine breeds.
- (viii) Under the component for establishment of Breed Multiplication Farms (BMF), the Department had sanctioned 132 BMFs. However, this component has been discontinued under the revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM).
- (ix) Under the scheme, funds have been released for setting up of 16 'Gokul Grams' in the country with the aim of conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds in a scientific and holistic manner. The component is discontinued under revised and realigned Rashtriya Gokul Mission  from  2021-22  to  2025-26.  The  state-wise  details  of  Gokul  Grams  are  given  at Annexure-I.

As no proposal was received from the State of Tamil Nadu, Gokul Gram has not been established in the State. Further, under RGM, no new bull mother farms have been sanctioned. However, a total of 4 BMF have been sanctioned in Tamil Nadu to ensure availability of elite animals of indigenous breeds. Further, a total of 2 IVF labs has been established in Tamil Nadu at Hosur and Namakkal for development and conservation of indigenous breeds. Further, funds have been released to the State for strengthening of 4 semen stations.

Due to the implementation of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) and other measures undertaken by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the overall productivity of bovines in the country has witnessed a remarkable increase. The average productivity has risen from 1,640 kilograms per animal per year in 2014 -15 to 2,072 kilograms per animal per year in 2023 -24, registering a 26.34% growth -the highest productivity gain achieved by any country in the world.

Specifically, the productivity of indigenous and non-descript cattle has improved from 927 kilograms per animal per year in 2014 -15 to 1,292 kilograms per animal per year in 2023 -24, marking a 39.37% increase. Similarly, the productivity of buffaloes has increased from 1,880 kilograms per animal per year in 2014 -15 to 2,161 kilograms per animal per year in 2023 -24, a gain of 14.94%.

As a result, India's total milk production has grown from 146.31 million tonnes in 201415 to 239.30 million tonnes in 2023 -24, reflecting an impressive 63.55% increase in just 10 years.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission was revised and realigned in July 2021 to enhance its effectiveness. In view of its successful implementation and strong demand from the States, the Government further revised the Rashtriya Gokul Mission in March 2025, allocating an additional amount of Rs. 1,000 crore. This brings the total outlay for the scheme to ₹3,400 crore for the 15th Finance Commission period (2021 -22 to 202526). Under the scheme two new activities have been added: (i) establishment of Heifer Rearing Centres to increase  availability  of  High  Genetic  Merit  animals  (HGM)  (ii)  3%  interest  subvention  to  farmers  for procurement of HGM IVF heifers.

(g) The Government of India provides support related to feed and fodder development activities under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) and National Livestock Mission (NLM) schemes.

Under  Animal  Husbandry  Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (AHIDF)  interest  subvention  is extended to Dairy Cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Private Companies, Individual Entrepreneurs, Section 8 Companies, and MSMEs for setting up animal feed plants. The scheme is demanddriven, and proposals are considered strictly on merit and eligibility, irrespective of geographical location.

Department is also supplementing the efforts of State Governments and Union Territories through implementation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme National Livestock Mission with a Sub-Mission on

Feed and Fodder Development since 2014-15. The scheme has been realigned in July 2021 and again in March 2024 with objective to enhance the fodder availability with following components:

- i. Assistance for quality fodder seed production under which the incentives up to Rs.250/kg, Rs.150/kg and Rs.100 Rs/kg are given for production of Breeder, Foundation and Certified seeds respectively.
- ii. Entrepreneurial activities in feed and fodder for Infrastructure development related to Hay/Silage/Total Mixed Ration(TMR)/ Fodder Block and storage of fodder where in subsidy  of 50% of the total project cost (up to Rs.50 lakhs) is provided to the beneficiaries.
- iii. Establishment of seed processing and grading infrastructure under Entrepreneurial activities wherein subsidy of 50% of the total project cost (up to Rs.50 lakhs) is provided to the beneficiaries.
- iv. Fodder Production from Non Forest Wasteland/rangeland/Non arable lands.
- v. Fodder Production from Forest Lands.

Besides the above, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the  Central  Sector  Scheme  on  'Formation  and  Promotion  of  10,000  Farmer  Producer  Organisations (FPOs)'. Under this scheme, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has been designated as an Implementing Agency for the formation and promotion of 100 FPOs, primarily focused on fodder-centric activities.

Further, the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi (ICAR), has developed Fodder Resources Development Plans with area-specific strategies to address the deficiency of green and dry fodder in different regions. These plans serve as executable roadmaps for State Governments and other agencies engaged in livestock-related policy and planning.

The Department has also undertaken extensive awareness initiatives -including seminars, video conferences,  advisories  to  States,  and  regional  review  meetings -to  promote  and  encourage  the establishment of animal feed manufacturing units, particularly in rural areas.

***

## Details of the Gokul Gram

| Name of the State   | Location of Gokul Gram                                                | Mandated Breed                         |
|---------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh      | Cattle Breeding farm, Chadalawada, Prakasam                           | Ongole                                 |
| Telangana           | PVNR Telangana Veterinary University                                  | Gir, Sahiwal, Thaparkar, Deoni, Ongole |
| Karnataka           | Amrithmahal, Subcenter, Lingadahalli, Chikkamagaluru,                 | Amrit Mahal                            |
| Gujarat             | Dharampur, Porbandar                                                  | Gir                                    |
| Madhya Pradesh      | Cattle Breeding Farm, Ratona, Sagar                                   | Tharparkar                             |
| Maharashtra         | Bull Mother Farm , Tathwade, Pune Bull Mother Farm , Pohara, Amravati | Pandharpuri Gaolao                     |
| Punjab              | Bir Dosanjh Nabha                                                     | Sahiwal; Gir                           |
| Haryana             | Hisar                                                                 | Hariana; Murrah                        |
| Himachal Pradesh    | Thanakhas, Una                                                        | Sahiwal                                |
| Uttar Pradesh       | DUVASU Mathura                                                        | Sahiwal; Hariana                       |
| Uttar Pradesh       | Arazilines Varanasi                                                   | Gangatiri                              |
| Uttar Pradesh       | Simra Viran, Shahjahanpur                                             | Sahiwal                                |
| Arunachal Pradesh   | Tezu, Lohit                                                           | Gir, Sahiwal,                          |
| Chhattisgarh        | Institutional Gokul Gram Jhalam, Bemetra                              | Gir, Sahiwal, Kosli                    |
| Bihar               | Dumraon, Buxar                                                        | Hariana graded                         |