Parliament Question: Protection and Conservation of Cows

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1569 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09TH DECEMBER 2025 PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF COWS 1569. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO: Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to State: (a) the steps taken by the Government to promote livestock along with the names of schemes for the promotion of animal husbandry and milk production; (b) the details of steps taken by the Government to protect and Conserve cows in the country; (c) the details and total budget allocated for the said schemes; and (d) the details of amount of subsidy being provided by the Government to promote livestock in rural areas? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) and (b) In order to supplement the efforts made by the States to promote animal husbandry and milk production, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India is implementing following schemes across the country: 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 are 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. 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 being created 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. 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. (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 organizedmarket, 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. National Livestock Mission (NLM): to bring sharp focus on entrepreneurship development and breed improvement in poultry, sheep, goat, piggery and fodder by providing the incentivization to the individual, FPOs, SHGs, Section 8 companies for entrepreneurship development and also to the State Government for breed improvement infrastructure. 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 to 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. (c) The details of the budget allocated under the various schemes being implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India is given at Annexure-I. (d) The details of subsidy provided under National Livestock Mission to promote livestock across the country including rural areas is given at Annexure-IIAnnexure-I Details of budget allocated under the schemes (Rs. In crore) Name of the 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Scheme BE RE BE RE BE RE BE RE BE RE Livestock Health and Disease 1470.00 886.00 2000.00 1390.02 2349.71 1500.00 2465.00 1980.00 1980 1980 Control Programme Infrastructure Development 283.00 262.00 315.00 315.00 340.00 340.00 370.00 395.00 460 362.25 Fund Dairy 255.00 403.01 340.01 220.00 326.93 371.00 371.00 450.00 1000 1000 Development Rashtriya Gokul 502.04 663.00 604.75 600.00 600.00 869.54 700.00 268.00 0.01 700 Mission National Livestock 350.00 288.00 410.00 350.00 410.00 410.00 324.00 450.00 800 760 Mission Note: BE – Budget Estimate, RE- Revised EstimateAnnexure-II The Details of the subsidy provided under National Livestock Mission S. Details of the Eligible entities Subsidy Limit No. Project 1 Establishment of Individual, Self Help Group One time 50% Entrepreneurs (SHG)/Framers Producer Organizations capital subsidy upto for breed (FPO)/Farmers Cooperatives Rs 25.00 lakh development of (FCOs)/Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) Rural Poultry and Section 8 companies for establishment of Parent Farm (1000 birds) 2 Establishment of Individual, Self Help Group One time 50% Entrepreneur for (SHG)/Framers Producer capital subsidy up to Organizations (FPO)/Farmers breed Rs 50.00 lakh Cooperatives (FCOs)/Joint Liability development in Groups (JLGs) and Section 8 small ruminant companies to establish sheep and goat sector (sheep and breeding unit with minimum 100 goat farming) females and 10 males and maximum of 500 females and 25 males. 3. Promotion of Individual/ Self Help Group Onetime 50% Piggery (SHG)/Framers Producer organizations Capital subsidy up to Rs 30.00 Lakh is Entrepreneur: (FPO)/Farmers Cooperatives (FCOs)/Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and Section 8 companies. 4. Establishment of Individual/ Self Help Group One time 50% Entrepreneurs (SHG)/Framers Producer organizations capital subsidy upto Rs 50.00 lakh for horse, (FPO)/Farmers Cooperatives donkey, (FCOs)/Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and Section 8 companies. 5. Entrepreneurial Individuals. SHG, FCOs JLG, FPOs, One time 50% activities in feed Dairy Cooperative societies, section 8 capital subsidy up and fodder to Rs. 50 lakh companies are incentivized for the value addition such as Hay/Silage/Total Mixed Ration(TMR)/ Fodder Block 6. Establishment of Companies, start-ups/ One time 50% Entrepreneurs SHGs/FPOs/FCOs/JLGs/ Cooperative capital subsidy up for Fodder Seed to Rs. 50 lakh societies Section 8 companies and other processing credible organizations for establishing Infrastructure fodder seed processing infrastructure (processing and grading unit/ fodder seed storage godown):