The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has recently announced that more than 50 lakh farmers will be employed under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) and related initiatives. These efforts aim to provide subsidies on breeding farms for various animals, promote livestock sector, and push for the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds.
Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)
The RGM was implemented in December 2014 and is projected to continue under the umbrella scheme Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojna from 2021 to 2026. The initiative carries a budget outlay of Rs.2400 crore and aims to enhance productivity, increase milk production, propagate genetically superior bulls for breeding, and promote scientific conservation of indigenous cattle and buffalo. Importantly, it benefits women who handle over 70% of the work in livestock farming.
Components of the RGM
Several key components are involved in implementing the RGM. These include making high genetic merit germplasm available, extending artificial insemination networks, developing and conserving indigenous breeds, and strengthening skill development and farmers’ awareness, among others. The program is implemented via the State Implementing Agency (SIA) viz Livestock Development Boards.
Gokul Grams Initiative
As part of the RGM, the Gokul Grams initiative promotes the establishment of integrated cattle development centers. These centers focus on promoting scientific rearing and conservation of indigenous cattle, propagating high genetic merit bulls, optimizing modern farm management practices, and economically utilizing animal waste. Currently, funds have been allocated for setting up 16 Gokul Grams.
National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre (NKBC)
The NKBC is being established as a Centre of Excellence aimed at developing and conserving Indigenous Breeds in a scientific manner.
E-Pashu Haat, Nakul Prajnan Bazaar, and Pashu Sanjivni
These platforms were created to provide information on pet cattle, enable trading of bovine animals, connect breeders and farmers for quality and disease-free bovine germplasm, and provide an animal wellness program encompassing the provision of animal health cards (‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’) along with unique identification and data uploading on National Database.
Advanced Reproductive Technology (ART)
ART involving Assisted Reproductive Technique- IVF/Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET) and sex-sorted semen technique is employed to improve the availability of disease-free female bovines.
National Bovine Genomic Center for Indigenous Breeds (NBGC-IB)
The NBGC-IB will be established with the goal of selecting breeding bulls of high genetic merit at a young age using highly precise gene-based technology.
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) Scheme
The AHIDF Scheme has been set up as part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package, with a fund of Rs.15000 crore. This scheme incentivizes investments by individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs), and Section 8 companies to establish dairy processing and value addition infrastructure, meat processing and value addition infrastructure, and animal feed plants.
Overall, these initiatives are expected to significantly promote livestock rearing, providing non-farm employment and income opportunities in rural areas.
