Parliament Question: Farmers and Dairy Owners

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 563 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3RD FEBRUARY 2026 FARMERS AND DAIRY OWNERS 563. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN: Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to State: (a) whether the Government is aware that farmers and dairy owners in the country including Sambhal district, Western Uttar Pradesh are facing problems such as rising fodder prices, animal diseases, and low milk procurement rates; and (b) if so, the details of measures taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to improve veterinary services, control animal diseases, ensure fair milk prices and support dairy farmers? ANSWER MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) and (b) No specific information is available with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India regarding dairy farmers facing problems such as rising fodder prices, animal diseases and low milk procurement rates. However, in order to supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories to enhance fodder production, milk production and productivity, control of animal diseases and to strengthen milk processing infrastructure, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India have taken following measures across the country including Sambhal district and Western Uttar Pradesh. 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 144.74 lakh animals covered, 231.92 lakh Artificial Insemination performed and 80.29 lakh farmers benefitted in the State of Uttar Pradesh and in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh 1.89 lakh animals inseminated, 3 lakh Artificial Insemination performed and 1.10 lakh farmers benefitted. (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. During the last three years, 7300 MAITRIs have been inducted in the State of Uttar Pradesh and 135 MAITRIs inducted in Sambhal. (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 1 IVF lab in Uttar Pradesh and has produced 627 viable embryos, with 505 embryos transferred and 126 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, 8 projects have been approved in Uttar Pradesh with the total project cost of Rs.9123.78 lakh with a central share of Rs.7496.00 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. 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. In order to increase availability of fodder the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘National Livestock Mission’ with a Sub Mission on Feed and Fodder Development. 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. 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 Uttar Pradesh, 16.01 crore vaccinations performed against FMD and 24.95 lakh against Brucellosis, 1.28 lakh against Peste des Petits- Ruminants. *****