Lok Sabha Question No. 287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-04
Subject: Rashtriya Gokul Mission
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Jugal Kishore, Shri Nalin Soren

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 287 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th  FEBRUARY 2025

## RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION

287. Shri Jugal Kishore: Shri Nalin Soren:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the role of Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) in increasing milk production and productivity of indigenous bovine species; and
- (b)  whether the Rashtriya  Gokul Mission has increased the  financial  assistance to the farmers engaged in the dairy occupation in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE HON'BLE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a)    The  scheme  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  is  playing  an  important  role  in  increasing  milk production  and  productivity  of  bovines.  With  the  implementation  of  the  scheme  and  other measures taken by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, milk production in the country has increased from 146.31 Million Tonnes in 2014-15 to 239.30 Million Tonnes in 202324 that is by 63.55 % during the last 10 years. The total productivity of Bovines in the country has increased from 1640 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 2072 kilograms per animal per year in 2023-24 that is by 26.34% which is the highest gain in productivity of bovines by any country in the world. The productivity of the indigenous and non-descript cattle has increased from 927 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 1292 kilograms per animal per year in 2023-24 that is by 39.37 %. The productivity of the buffaloes has increased from 1880 kilograms per  animal  per  year  in  2014-15  to  2161  kilograms  per  animal  per  year  in  2023-24  that  is  by 14.94%

Following  components  are  successfully  implemented  under  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  for increasing milk production and productivity of bovines:

- (i) Nationwide  Artificial  Insemination  Program:  Under  the  Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission,  the Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  is  expanding  artificial  insemination coverage to boost the milk production and productivity of bovines, including indigenous breeds.  As  on  date,  8.32  crore  animals  have  been  covered,  with  12.20  crore  artificial inseminations performed, benefiting 5.19 crore farmers.
- (ii) Progeny  Testing  and  Pedigree  Selection:  This  program  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 breed of cattle and Jaffarabadi, Nili Ravi, Pandharpuri and Banni breed of buffalo are covered. So far, 3,988 high genetic merit bulls have produced and inducted for semen production.
- (iii)Implementation of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Technology: To propagate elite animals of indigenous breeds, the Department has established 22 IVF laboratories. The technology has  important  role  in  genetic  upgradation  of  bovine  population  in  single  generation. Further,  to  deliver  technology  at  reasonable  rates  to  farmers  Government  has  launched IVF media.
- (iv) Sex-Sorted  Semen  Production:  The  Department  has  established  sex  sorted  semen production facilities at 5 government semen stations located in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. 3 private semen stations are also producing sex sorted semen doses. So far 1.15 crore sex-sorted semen doses from high genetic merit bulls have been produced and made available for Artificial Insemination.
- (v) Genomic  Selection:  To  accelerate  genetic  improvement  of  cattle  and  buffaloes,  the Department has developed unified genomic chips-Gau Chip for indigenous cattle and Mahish Chip for buffaloes-specifically designed for initiating genomic selection in the country.
- (vi) Multi-purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs): Under the scheme  MAITRIs  are  trained  and  equipped  to  deliver  quality  Artificial  Insemination services at farmers' doorstep. During the last 3 years 38,736 MAITRIs have been trained and equipped under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
- (vii) Accelerated  Breed  Improvement  Programme  using  sex  sorted  semen:  This program  aims  to  produce  female  calves  with  up  to  90%  accuracy,  thereby  enhancing breed improvement and farmers' income. Farmers receive support for assured pregnancy upto  50%  of  the  cost  of  sex  sorted  semen.  As  of  now,  341,998  farmers  have  been benefited  from  this  program.  Government  has  launched  indigenously  developed  sex sorted semen technology to deliver sex sorted semen at reasonable rates to farmers.
- (viii) Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology: This technology is utilized for the rapid genetic upgradation of bovines and an incentive of Rs 5,000 per assured pregnancy is made available to farmers interested in taking up IVF technology.
- (b)  Yes,  Sir.  Financial  assistance  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  4442.87  crores  have  been  released  to  the implementing agencies between 2014-15 & 2024-25 (upto December 2024) for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds and against this an amount of Rs. 983.43 crores have been released between 2004-05 & 2013-14 for Cattle and Buffalo Development. The benefit of the scheme has been accruing to farmers engaged in dairying in terms of enhancement in milk production and productivity of bovines.