Lok Sabha Question No. 1524 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Establishment of Rashtriya Gokul Mission
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Tharaniventhan M S

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1524 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 TH  DECEMBER 2025

## ESTABLISHMENT OF RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION

## 1524. SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to State:

- (a) the features of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM);
- (b) the details of the number of Gokul Grams established in the State of Tamil Nadu;
- (c) the total financial allocation made for the RGM in Tamil Nadu, and the amount of allocated fund utilized so far for the development of indigenous cattle breeds, breed improvement and establishment of dairy farms;
- (d) the number of indigenous cattle breeds identified and promoted under the RGM and the steps taken by the Government to improve their productivity and genetic potential;
- (e)  the  impact  of  the  RGM on improving the dairy sector, increasing milk production, and supporting rural livelihoods in Tamil Nadu; and
- (f) the plans of the Government for expanding the Rashtriya Gokul Mission especially in terms of increasing the number of Gokul Grams and promoting better cattle management practices?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) since December 2014 to 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 salient features of the scheme are : (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.

(b) As no proposal was received from the State of Tamil Nadu, Gokul Gram has not been established in the State.  The component establishment of Gokul Gram is discontinued under revised and realigned Rashtriya Gokul Mission from 2021-22 to 2025-26. However, a total of 4 Breed Multiplication Farm (BMF) have been sanctioned in Tamil Nadu to ensure availability of elite animals of indigenous breeds. A total of 2 In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) labs have 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.

(c) Under RGM central assistance of Rs. 17006.05 lakh has been released to Tamil Nadu during the last 4 years and current financial year and out of this (as per Utilization certificates received in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying), amount of Rs. 13459.05 lakh has been utilized. .

(d) All indigenous bovine breeds including 54 breeds of cattle and 21 breeds of buffalo as notified by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources are covered and promoted under the scheme. Following steps undertaken under Rashtriya Gokul Mission to improve productivity and genetic potential:

- (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 on 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  9.36  crore  animals  have  been  covered,  14.56  crores  Artificial Insemination have been performed and 5.62 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 128 lakh sex sorted semen doses have been produced in the  country  including semen  doses  produced  from  private  semen  stations. Indigenously developed sex sorted semen production technology has been launched by Hon'ble PM on 5.10.2024 with this technology cost of sex sorted semen has been reduced from Rs 800 to Rs 250/ dose. So far 40 lakh doses sex sorted semen production facility using indigenous technology has been created in the country. Production  facility  for  additional  150  lakh  doses  production  annually  is  being

created at CFSP&TI, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab  and in various semen stations in Gujarat.

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. As on date, 39810 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  24  IVF laboratories  across  India  for  this  purpose.  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.
- (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, 4288 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) Creation awareness among farmers: 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.

(e) The  RGM  scheme  is  playing  important  role  in  enhancing  milk  production  and productivity of bovines. With the implementation of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) and other measures undertaken by the Department  of Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying, Government of India  and State Government the overall productivity of bovines in Tamil Nadu has witnessed a remarkable increase, the average productivity has risen from 5.87 kilograms per animal per day in 2014 -15 to 6.43 kilograms per animal per day in 2023-24, registering a overall growth of 9.54% growth.

Specifically, the productivity of indigenous and non-descript cattle has improved from 2.65 kilograms per animal per day in 2014 -15 to 3.14 kilograms per animal per day in 2023 -24, marking increase of 18.49 %.

As a result, Tamil Nadu total milk production has grown from 7.13 million tonnes in 2014 -15 to 10.67 million tonnes in 2023 -24, reflecting an impressive 49.64% increase during the last 10 years.

- (f) Looking towards successful implementation of Rashtriya Gokul Mission and strong demand  from  the  States,  the  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying  (DAHD), Government of India has 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  Rs. 3,400 crore for the 15 th   Finance Commission period (2021-22 to 2025-26). Under the scheme two new activities have been added for increasing availability of high Genetic Merit animals and to adopt better management practices through adoption of latest reproductive bio-techniques: (i)  establishment  of  Heifer  Rearing  Centres  to  increase  availability  of  High  Genetic  Merit (HGM) animals   and (ii) 3% interest subvention to farmers for procurement of HGM IVF  born heifers. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India is also expanding  quality  Artificial  Insemination  (AI)  services  throughout  the  country  through strengthening of semen stations, induction of Multi Purpose Artificial Insemination Technician in  Rural  India  (MAITRIs)  and  implementation  of  Nationwide  Artificial  Insemination Programme in the districts with less than 50% AI coverage