Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• 22 Dec 2022

For Prelims: Rashtriya Gokul Mission and related Iinitiatives, Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana, Gokul Grams

For Mains: Initiatives to Promote Livestock Sector

Why in News?

Recently, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying announced that employment will be given to more than 50 lakh farmers.

• Under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) there is a scheme to provide subsidy on cow/buffalo/pig/chicken/goat breeding farms and silage making units of which 50% subsidy will be given by the Government of India. Also, 3% interest subvention on the loan amount can also be taken under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) scheme.

What is Rashtriya Gokul Mission?

• About:
  • It is being implemented for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds since December 2014.
  • The scheme is also continued under umbrella scheme Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojna from 2021 to 2026 with a budget outlay of Rs.2400 crore.
• Nodal Ministry:
  • Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
• Objectives:
  • To enhance productivity of bovines and increasing milk production in a sustainable manner using advance technologies.
  • To propagate use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes.
  • To enhance Artificial insemination coverage through strengthening breeding network and delivery of Artificial insemination services at farmers doorstep.
  • To promote indigenous cattle & buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.
• Significance:
  • The RGM will result in enhanced productivity and benefit of the programme, percolating to all cattle and buffaloes of India especially with small and marginal farmers.
  • This programme will also benefit women in particular since over 70% of the work involved in livestock farming is undertaken by women.
• Components:
  • Availability of High genetic Merit Germplasm
  • Extension of Artificial Insemination Network
  • Development and Conservation of indigenous Breeds
  • Skill Development
  • Farmers Awareness
  • Research Development and Innovation in Bovine Breeding
• Implementing Agency:
  • Rashtriya Gokul Mission will be implemented through the “State Implementing Agency (SIA viz Livestock Development Boards).
• Significant Initiatives:
  • Gopal Ratna Awards:
    • For farmers maintaining the best herd of Indigenous Breed and practicing best management practices.
  • Kamdhenu Awards:
    • For best-managed Indigenous herd by Institutions/Trusts/ NGOs/ Gaushalas or best-managed Breeders’ societies.
  • Gokul Grams:
    • RGM envisages the establishment of integrated cattle development centers, ‘Gokul Grams’ to develop indigenous breeds including up to 40% nondescript breeds (belonging or appearing to belong to no particular class or kind) with objectives to:
      • Promote indigenous cattle rearing and conservation in a scientific manner.
      • Propagate high genetic merit bulls of indigenous breeds.
      • Optimize modern Farm Management practices and promote Common Resource Management.
      • Utilize animal waste in an economical way i.e., Cow Dung, Cow Urine.
    • Recently, funds have been released for setting up of 16 Gokul Grams.
  • National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre (NKBC):
    • It is being established as a Centre of Excellence to develop and conserve Indigenous Breeds in a holistic and scientific manner.
  • E-Pashu Haat:
    • It is a web portal which provides information on pet cattle, trading of bovine animals that were not offered on any other platform in the country.
  • Nakul Prajnan Bazaar:
    • An e-market portal connecting breeders and farmers, for quality- disease-free bovine germplasm.
  • Pashu Sanjivni:
    • An animal wellness program encompassing the provision of animal health cards (‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’) along with unique identification and uploading data on National Database.
  • Advanced Reproductive Technology (ART):
    • Including Assisted Reproductive Technique- IVF/Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET) and sex-sorted semen technique to improve the availability of disease-free female bovines.
  • National Bovine Genomic Center for Indigenous Breeds (NBGC-IB):
    • It will be established for selection of breeding bulls of high genetic merit at a young age using highly precise gene-based technology.
  • AHIDF Scheme:
    • AHIDF of Rs.15000 crore has been set up under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package for incentivizing investments by individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) and Section 8 companies to establish:
      • the dairy processing and value addition infrastructure,
      • meat processing and value addition infrastructure and
      • Animal Feed Plant.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Years Question (PYQ)

Q. Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sector in India. (2015)

Source: PIB