Parliament Question: Dairy Farmers in Punjab

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 3RD 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: (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. (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 atreasonable 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) Multi-Purpose 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 technology, 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 (SHGs)/ 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 naturalcalamities. 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/Non-arable 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 countryhas 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. Scheme Funds released during last No. 5 years (Rs. in lakh) 1 Rashtriya Gokul Mission 946.13 2 National Programme for Dairy Development 40272.69 (NPDD) 3 Supporting Dairy Cooperatives & Farmer Producer 3328.10 Organisations 4 National Livestock Mission 369.66 5 Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme 3901.04 (LHDCP)