Lok Sabha Question No. 608 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Dairy Farmers in Punjab
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 608 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY 2026

## DAIRY FARMERS IN PUNJAB

## 608. SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to State:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of rising input costs and animal disease concerns affecting dairy farmers in Punjab;
- (b)  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  livestock  health,  vaccination  and insurance coverage;
- (c) whether any dairy infrastructure or milk processing projects have been sanctioned by the Government; and
- (d) if so, the details of the funds released and benefits accrued to farmers?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) No specific information is available with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying,  Government  of  India  regarding  rising  input  costs  and  animal  disease  concerns affecting dairy farmers in Punjab.

However,  in  order  to  supplement  the  efforts  made  by  the  States  and  Union  Territories  to enhance milk production and productivity, control of animal diseases and to strengthen milk processing  infrastructure  and  livestock  insurance  coverage,  the  Department  of  Animal Husbandry  &  Dairying,  Government  of  India  is  implementing  following  schemes  and measures.  The  benefit  of  the  schemes  is  accruing  to  all  dairy  farmers  across  the  country including Punjab.

1. Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): RGM is implemented for development and conservation of  indigenous  breeds,  genetic  upgradation  of  bovine  population  and  enhancement  of  milk production and productivity of bovines with the following major initiatives under the scheme:
2. (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. As on date, 9.54 crore animals have been covered, 14.99 crores Artificial Insemination have been performed and 5.69 crores farmers  benefitted  under  the  programme.  During  the  last  three  years  11.95  lakh  animals covered, 18.96 lakh Artificial Insemination performed and 6.36 lakh farmers benefitted in the State of Punjab.
3. (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.  Indigenously  developed  sex sorted semen production technology has been launched and with this technology cost of sex sorted semen has been reduced substantially and sex sorted semen is available to farmers at

reasonable rates. So far, 1.34 crore sex-sorted semen doses have been produced using high genetic merit bulls, including bulls from indigenous breeds

(iii) Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using sex sorted semen is implemented for promotion of sex sorted semen and incentive upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen on assured pregnancy is made available to farmers.

(iv) 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 inducted in the country.

(v) In-Vitro  Fertilization  (IVF)  Technology  is  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 te chnology, has been launched to take advanced breeding methods to farmers' doorsteps, with an incentive of Rs. 5,000 provided for every assured pregnancy. From these labs 28358 viable embryos have been produced and out of this, 16065 embryos have been transferred and 2593 calves born. To propagate elite animals of indigenous breeds, the Department has established 2 IVF lab in Punjab and has produced 1653 viable embryos, with 861 embryos transferred and 153 calves born.

(vi) Progeny testing and Pedigree selection programme is implemented 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. So far, 4466 high genetic merit bulls have been produced and made available to semen stations for semen production.

(vii) 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.

(viii) Creation  awareness  among  farmers:  Under  the  scheme,  fertility  camps,  milk  yield competitions, calf rallies, seminars, workshops, and conclaves have been organized to create awareness among farmers about the importance of indigenous bovine breeds.

2. National  Programme  for  Dairy  Development  (NPDD):  NPDD  is  implemented  with following 2 components:

(i) Component  ''A''  of  NPDD  focuses  on  creating/strengthening  of  infrastructure  for quality milk testing equipment as well as primary chilling facilities for State Cooperative Dairy Federations/  District  Cooperative  Milk  Producers'  Union/  Self  Help  Groups  (SHG s)/  Milk Producer Companies/ Farmer Producer Organizations.  Under the scheme, 11 projects have been approved in Punjab with the total project cost of Rs.28572.31 lakh with a central share of Rs.18773.86 lakh.

(ii) Component  ''B''  of  the  NPDD  scheme  "Dairying  through  Cooperatives'  aims  to increase sale of milk and dairy products by increasing farmer's access to organized market, upgrading dairy processing facilities and marketing infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of producer owned institutions.

3. Supporting Dairy Cooperatives & Farmer Producer Organisations engaged in dairy activities (SDCFPO): To assist the State Dairy Cooperative Federations by providing interest subvention (regular 2% and additional 2% on prompt repayment) with respect to soft working capital loan to tide over the crisis on account severely adverse market conditions or natural calamities. As on 15.12.2025, in Punjab State, an amount of Rs. 3328.1 lakh (Rs. 1722.69 as regular interest subvention and Rs. 1605.41 lakh as additional interest subvention) has been released leveraging working capital loan amount of Rs 3053.50 Cr for 8 milk Union/Federations.

4. Animal  Husbandry  Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (AHIDF):  AHIDF  provides interest subvention at the rate 3% per annum for creation/ strengthening of livestock product processing and diversification infrastructure thereby providing greater access for unorganized producer members to organized market.
5. The  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying,  Government  of  India  is implementing National Livestock Mission (NLM)  which aims towards employment generation,  entrepreneurship  development,  increase  in  per  animal  productivity  and  thus targeting increased production of meat, goat milk, egg and wool under the umbrella scheme Development Programme. The scheme have following three Sub-Missions: (a) Sub-mission on  Breed  Development  of  Livestock  and  Poultry;  (b)  Sub-mission  on  Feed  and  Fodder Development and (c) Sub Mission on Innovation and Extension.

Under the Sub-Mission on feed and fodder is having following components:

- (i) Assistance for Quality Fodder Seed Production
- (ii) Entrepreneurial activities in feed and fodder
- (iii) Establishment of Entrepreneurs for Fodder Seed processing Infrastructure (processing and grading unit/ fodder seed storage godown)
- (iv) Fodder production from Non-Forest Wasteland/Rangeland/Nonarable Land' and 'Fodder Production from Forest Land

The  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying,  Government  of  India  is supporting  establishment  of  fodder  Farmer  Producer  Organization  (FPOs)  with  the  aim  to develop organised system of production and sale of fodder products -silage, hay, dry fodder blocks, Total Mixed Ration (TMR), planting material, fodder seeds etc and to bridge the gap between demand and supply of fodder in the country and so far 100  fodder FPOs have been registered.

Livestock Insurance programme: Assistance is provided to State Government for share of  premium @ 60:40 or 90:10 basis for insurance coverage for animals. The beneficiary is providing 15% share of the premium. The benefit of subsidy is restricted to 10 cattle unit per household  up  to  sheep  and  goat  and  5  cattle  unit  for  pig  and  rabbits  (1  cattle  unit  =  10 sheep/goat/pig/rabbit).The Risk Management & Insurance is implemented in all the Districts of the Country. The indigenous / crossbred milch animals, pack animals (Horses, Donkey, Mules, Camels, Ponies and Cattle/Buffalo Male), and other Livestock (Goat, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbit, Yak and Mithun etc.) are under the purview of this activity.

6. Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme  (LHDCP):  to  provide for prophylactic  vaccination  against  animal  diseases,  capacity  building  of  veterinary  services, disease surveillance, and strengthening veterinary infrastructure. Also, a new component of Pashu Aushadhi is added under the scheme ensure availability of affordable generic veterinary medicine across the country through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PM-KSK) and Cooperative  Societies.  This  will  create  an  ecosystem  for  Generic  Medicine  which  will  be affordable and of good quality. So far, in Punjab, 3.69 crore vaccinations performed against FMD and 6.54 lakh against Brucellosis, 1.20 lakh against Peste des Petits- Ruminants.

The implementation of schemes and other measures undertaken by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India the total productivity of Bovines in the country has increased from 1640 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 2250  kilograms per animal per year in 2024-25 that is by 36.63% which is the highest productivity gain 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 1343.2 kilograms per animal per year in 2024-25 that is by 44.89%. The productivity of the buffaloes has increased from 1880 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 2365.2 kilograms per animal per year in 2024-25 that is by 25.80%. Milk production in the country has increased from 146.31 Million Tonnes in 2014-15 to 247.87 Million Tonnes in 2024-25 that is by 69.41 % during the last 11 years.

Similarly, in Punjab the total productivity of Bovines has increased from 3365 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 4299 kilograms per animal per year in 2024-25 that is by 27.75%. The productivity of the indigenous and non-descript cattle has increased from 2489.3 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 3416.4 kilograms per animal per year in 2024-25 that is by 37.24%. The productivity of the buffaloes has increased from 3182.8 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 3890.9 kilograms per animal per year in 2024-25 that is by 22.24%. Milk production in Punjab has increased from 102.86 Lakh tonnes in 2014-15 to 147.76 Lakh tonnes in 2024-25 that is by 43.65 % during the last 11 years.

Details of funds released to the Punjab State under Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes is given at Annexure -I.

Annexure-I

Details of funds released to the Punjab State under Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes

|   Sr. No. | Scheme                                                       |   Funds released during last 5 years (Rs. in lakh) |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Rashtriya Gokul Mission                                      |                                             946.13 |
|         2 | National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)              |                                           40272.7  |
|         3 | Supporting Dairy Cooperatives &Farmer Producer Organisations |                                            3328.1  |
|         4 | National Livestock Mission                                   |                                             369.66 |
|         5 | Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP)       |                                            3901.04 |