Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission Greenlit with Increased Livestock Funding
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Synopsis
The Union Cabinet has approved the revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission with an outlay of Rs 3,400 crore, enhancing the livestock sector with new initiatives aimed at boosting productivity and supporting farmers.
Key Takeaways
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission revised with Rs 3,400 crore.
- New activities include Heifer Rearing Centres.
- 3% interest subvention for IVF heifers loans.
- Milk production increased by 63.55% in 10 years.
- 8.5 crore farmers to benefit from the scheme.
New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) To enhance the growth of the livestock sector, the Union Cabinet has greenlit the updated Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) with a comprehensive budget of Rs 3,400 crore — which includes an extra allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26.
This initiative introduces two new components, one of which offers a one-time subsidy of 35 per cent of the capital cost for setting up Heifer Rearing Centres. These centres aim to create 30 housing facilities for a total of 15,000 heifers.
Moreover, it incentivizes farmers to acquire high genetic merit (HGM) IVF heifers by providing a 3 per cent interest subvention on loans from milk unions, financial institutions, or banks for these purchases.
The government asserts that this will facilitate the systematic introduction of high-yielding breeds.
Since the implementation of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and other related initiatives, milk production has surged by 63.55 per cent over the past decade.
The per capita availability of milk has risen from 307 grams daily in 2013-14 to 471 grams daily in 2023-24.
Additionally, productivity has improved by 26.34 per cent in the last ten years, as stated by the Cabinet.
This scheme is poised to markedly enhance milk production and productivity, ultimately benefiting farmers' incomes.
Furthermore, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a well-established technology as a result of the initiatives under this scheme. This effort will not only boost productivity but also uplift the livelihoods of 8.5 crore farmers involved in dairy farming.
The sanctioned revised scheme continues the ongoing activities of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, including the fortification of semen stations, the artificial insemination network, the bull production program, and the accelerated breed improvement program utilizing sex-sorted semen, alongside skill development, farmer education, and support for innovative projects like establishing Centres of Excellence.
The Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP) under this Mission provides free artificial insemination services directly at the farmers' doorsteps in 605 districts nationwide, particularly where baseline coverage was below 50 per cent.
To date, over 8.39 crore animals have been serviced and 5.21 crore farmers have reaped benefits, as per the Cabinet's announcement.
