Question : Milch Cattle

(a) whether the number of cows and other milch cattle in the country is more than the number of milch cattle in the rest of the world;
(b) if so, the annual milk productivity in the country in comparison to the global average;
(c) whether any scheme has been launched by the Government to improve the breed of Indian cows;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether any schemes are being implemented by the Government for cattle keepers;
(f) if so, the details thereof; and
(g) if not, the steps being taken by the Government for welfare and development of cattle keepers?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)


(a)& (b) No, Sir. As per Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of United Nations, the percentage share of population of cows in India with respect to total number of cows in the world is 18% during the year 2017.As per FAO, the annual milk productivity per cow in India is 1643 Kg whereas the world average is 2430 Kg per cow.

(c) & (d) In order to complement and supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories to improve breeds of Indian cows, Government of India is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population, enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines thereby making milk production more remunerative to the farmers.

Cont…



(e) to (g) In order to complement and supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories, Government of India is implementing following schemes for the benefit of dairy farmers including cattle keepers:
1. Rashtriya Gokul Mission
2. National Programme for Dairy Development
3. Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme
4. Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund
5. National Dairy Plan-I (NDP-I)
6. Livestock Health and Disease Control
7. National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP)
8. National Livestock Mission sub-mission Livestock Development
Further, the sustainable livestock practices are being promoted across the country under the components of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under Ministry of Rural Development. The major intervention areas under these livestock practices are engagement of ‘pashusakhi’ the livelihood Community Resource Person (livestock) who is a livestock extension worker at village level. Basically, they work as awareness campaigner and connecting link with livestock Department and providing basic knowledge to farmers about general management, breed management, feed and fodder management, health management, first-aid and ethno veterinary treatment.
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