(a) whether the Government is considering to set up ‘National Cattle Development Board’ for improvement of indigenous breeds of milch cattle in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the time by which the Board is likely to be set up?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIYA)
(a) to (c) No, Madam, The National Dairy Development Board was setup in 1965 and was made autonomous by an Act of Parliament in 1987 and has the mandate to: a) promote plan and organise programmes for the purpose of development of dairy and other agriculture based and allied industries on an intensive and nation- wide basis and to render assistance in the implementation of such programmes; b) adopt the cooperative strategy in a more effective manner on an intensive and national wide basis and to take such steps as may be necessary for the purposes of aforesaid and c) improvement of indigenous breeds of milch animals (including cattle) in the country. Towards this end National Dairy Development Board is undertaking development of bovine population including cattle in a scientific and holistic manner under the National Dairy Plan-I. All the State Governments except Goa have established State Livestock Development Boards for implementation of the schemes of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries including schemes of NDDB and their components, aimed at improvement of milch animals including cattle by the way of genetic upgradation in a professional and scientific manner.
***