(a) whether the Government has any proposal to promote cattle and indigenous cows farming in every State, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any central scheme is proposed the said purpose, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the farmers will be provided incentives to promote cattle and indigenous cows farming, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)
(a) and (b) In order to complement and supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds including promotion of cattle and indigenous cow farming Government of India has been implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme Rashtriya Gokul Mission since December 2014. All the State and UTs are participating under this scheme. The scheme is leading to increase in number of elite animals of indigenous breeds. Government has also established 7 Central Cattle Breeding Farms, 4 Central herd Registration Units and Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute for production of high genetic merit bulls, identification and location of elite animals of indigenous breeds and production of semen doses from high genetic merit bulls for genetic upgradation of bovine population including promotion of indigenous breeds of cattle and buffaloes.
(c) Rashtriya Gokul Mission is not a beneficiary oriented scheme. However, assistance has been made available to the farmers under the following components of the schemes being implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
(i) Nationwide Artificial Insemination programme (NAIP) has been initiated under Rashtriya Gokul Mission for delivery of Artificial Insemination services free of cost at farmer’s doorstep.
(ii) National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) under which free vaccination has been made available for all eligible animals(100% cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig for Foot and Mouth Disease and 100% bovine female calves of 4-8 months of age for disease Brucellosis) including indigenous cows.
(iii) Kisan Credit Card- For the first time the Kisan Credit Card has also been extended to all farmers involved in Animal Husbandry activities including dairy farming and farmers having cows of indigenous breeds.
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