Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Strengthening Indigenous Cattle Breeds

The Union Cabinet has approved ₹3,400 crore revised funding for Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) and an additional ₹1,000 crore regarding the 2021–22 to 2025–26 period. Under this mission objectives include increasing milk production along with enhancing productivity of cows and protecting native bovine breeds. RGM started its operations in December 2014 through the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying as a flagship program to support dairy farming via contemporary scientific practices.

Context:

• The Union Cabinet has approved ₹3,400 crore revised funding for Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) and an additional ₹1,000 crore regarding the 2021–22 to 2025–26 period.

About Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)

What is Rashtriya Gokul Mission?

• The government has implemented a project that focuses on both the development and preservation of native cattle populations as a part of their national program.

• The plan targets to strengthen milk output while enhancing beneficial animal genetic features for cattle.

• The program safeguards outstanding genetic bulls which will produce offspring for future breeding programs.

Implementation and Funding

• Launched: December 2014

• Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying

• Funding:

  • The initiative receives full grant funding with the exception of particular components.

  • ₹5,000 subsidy per IVF pregnancy.

  • 50% subsidy on sex-sorted semen cost.

  • The scheme provides half of project costs up to ₹2 crore to install new breed multiplication facilities.

Objectives and Benefits

• The productivity of milk increases when indigenous breed genetics undergo improvement processes.

• The Ministry should promote Artificial Insemination (AI) implementation as a means to establish scientific breeding practices.

• The government needs to safeguard indigenous livestock groups including Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Tharparkar, and Red Sindhi.

• The Gokul Grams project will serve as integrated cattle breeding centers to properly preserve breeds.

• The enhancement of dairy farming operations alongside better farmer livelihoods depends on the practice of cattle rearing.

Conclusion

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission functions as a vital program to enhance dairy attributes while championing conservation efforts of Indian cattle biodiversity. Funding increases along with scientific animal-breeding methodologies make this mission well-positioned to provide major benefits for sustainable dairy farming together with rural economy development. Additional financial support will enhance the existing work in both breeding enhancement and native breed preservation programs which will create sustainable food security for Indian farmers with better economic opportunities.