Parliament Question: Establishment of Rashtriya Gokul Mission

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 09TH 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 atfarmers 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 sex- sorted 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 beingcreated 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) 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 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 15th 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