AVAILABILITY OF INDIGENOUS CATTTLES

In order to supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories, to conserve, promote and increase the population of  indigenous bovine breeds, Government of India is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) for development and conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines. All indigenous bovine breeds as recognised by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources are covered under the scheme. Following steps are being taken under the scheme:

(i) Implementation of Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP) using semen of high merit bulls including bulls of indigenous breeds. Under the component Artificial Insemination (AI) services is delivered free of cost at farmers’ doorstep in the districts with less than 50% AI coverage. During the last 3 years 5.12 crore animals covered, 8.99 crore AI performed and 2.85 crore farmers benefitted. The details of beneficiaries benefitted during the last three years state wise is given at Annexure-I.

(ii)    The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has established sex sorted semen production facilities and implementing Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using sex sorted semen with the aim to produce female calves up to 90% accuracy thereby enhancing milch cattle population, breed improvement and farmers’ income. Government has launched indigenously developed sex sorted semen technology to deliver sex sorted semen at reasonable rates to farmers including sex sorted semen of indigenous breeds.

(iii) Implementation of progeny testing and pedigree selection for production of high genetic merit bulls including bulls of indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Kankrej, Hariana, Rathi, Gaolao breeds of cattle and Murrah, Mehsana, Jaffarabadi, Pandharpuri, Nili Ravi, Banni breeds of buffalo. High genetic merit bulls of indigenous breeds produced under the programme are being made available to semen stations for semen production.

(iv) Implementation of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Technology: To propagate elite animals of indigenous breeds, the Department has established 24 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 indigenous IVF media.

5. Genomic Selection:  To select High Genetic Merit (HGM) animals and to accelerate genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes, the Department has developed unified genomic chips—Gau Chip for indigenous cattle and Mahish Chip for indigenous buffaloes—specifically designed for initiating genomic selection of high genetic merit animals in the country.

(vi)   Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing National Milk Recording Programme and Surabhi Chayan Shrankhla for identification, location of donors and propagation of elitist of elite animals including indigenous breeds.

(vii) Community resource persons /Multi-purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs) are trained and equipped to deliver quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep and so far 39,810 Community resource persons /MAITRIs are trained and equipped in the country.

(viii)Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing Central herd Registration scheme for identification, location and propagation of elite animals of indigenous breeds.

Further, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme- National Mission on Natural Farming which aims to promote Natural Farming based on the understanding of local agro-ecological systems derived from Indian traditional local knowledge, livestock (preferably local breed of cow) based agriculture-animal husbandry models and farmer to farmer extension. Natural farming is integrated with livestock (preferably local breed of cow) and involves use of on-farm inputs like Beejamrut, Jeevamrut, GhanJeevamrut, Neemastra, Dashparni, etc., multi-cropping systems, pre-monsoon dry sowing, biomass based mulching, use of traditional varieties of seeds, integration of trees on buffer zones of farm, etc. In addition to other components/ activities the scheme envisages:

1. Popularization livestock (preferably local breed of cow) through integrated agriculture-animal husbandry models and developing linkages with Goshalas for ensuring the availability of inputs, enhancing local livestock (preferably local breed of cow) population through breed improvement, development of Natural Farming model demonstration farms at Central Cattle Breeding Farms/ Regional Fodder Stations, etc.
2. For the successful adoption of Natural Farming, access to livestock and plants for preparing animal and plant based Natural Farming inputs, the scheme envisages to establish 10,000 need-based Bio-Input Resource Centers (BRCs) for production and supply of Natural Farming inputs at local levels.
3. Output Based incentive is available under the scheme to trained willing farmers to practice Natural Farming, train more farmers, upkeep of livestock (preferably local breed of cow)/ preparation of Natural Farming inputs (including purchase of mixing & storage containers, etc.)/ purchase of Natural Farming inputs from Bio-Input Resource Centre.

Annexure-I