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Rashtriya Gokul Mission can boost productivity of Indian breeds: Singh
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Wednesday, 30 July, 2014, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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fiogf49gjkf0d The Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched in New Delhi recently. Speaking about the nationwide project, agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh stated that the potential to enhance the productivity of the indigenous breeds of India through professional farm management and superior nutrition was immense. He added that for this, it is essential to promote conservation and development of indigenous breeds.
Singh informed that the Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a focussed project under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development, with an outlay of Rs 500 crore during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan. In 2014-15, Rs 150 crore would be allocated for the development, preservation and conservation of indigenous breeds.
The minister said, “The mission would be implemented with the objectives of: (a) development and conservation of indigenous breeds; (b) undertaking a breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic make-up and increase the stock; (c) enhance the milk production and productivity; (d) upgrade nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi, and (e) distribute disease-free high genetic merit bulls for natural service.”
He added that the Rashtriya Gokul Mission would be implemented through the state implementing agencies (SIA), namely livestock development boards (LDB).
“The State Gauseva Ayogs would be given the mandate to sponsor proposals to the SIA (LDB) and monitor the implementation of the sponsored proposal. All agencies having a role in indigenous cattle development would be participating agencies,” Singh stated.
He added that participating agencies included the Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute (CFSPTI), central cattle breeding farms (CCBF), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), universities, colleges, non-governmental organisations (NGO), cooperative societies and gaushalas with the best germplasm.
Singh informed that the funds under the scheme will be allocated for the following:
- The establishment of integrated indigenous cattle centres (viz. Gokul Gram);
- The strengthening of bull mother farms to conserve high genetic merit indigenous breeds;
- The establishment of field performance recording (FPR) in the breeding tract;
- Assistance to institutions/institutes which are repositories of the best germplasm;
- The implementation of pedigree selection programmes for indigenous breeds with large populations;
- The establishment of breeders’ societies (Gopalan Sangh);
- The distribution of disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service;
- Offering incentives to farmers maintaining elite animals of indigenous breeds;
- Heifer rearing programmes, and awards to farmers (Gopal Ratna) and breeders’ societies (Kamadhenu);
- Organising milk yield competitions for indigenous breeds, and
- Organising training programmes for technical and non-technical personnel working at the institutions engaged in indigenous cattle development
Gokul Grams
Under this component, it was proposed to establish integrated indigenous cattle centres (Gokul Grams) in the breeding tracts of indigenous breeds.
They would be established in (i) the native breeding tracts and (ii) near metropolitan cities for housing the urban cattle.
The Gokul Grams would act as centres for development of indigenous breeds and a dependable source for supply of high genetic breeding stock to the farmers in the breeding tract.
They would be self-sustaining and generate economic resources from the sale of A2 milk, organic manure, vermi-composting and urine distillates, and the production of electricity from biogas for the in-house consumption and sale of animal products.
The Gokul Grams would also function as state-of-the-art in-situ training centres for farmers, breeders and Maitris.
Each Gokul Gram would be set up by an end implemting agency (EIA) and function either under the auspices of the SIA/EIA or in public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
It would maintain milch and unproductive animals in the ratio of 60:40, and have the capacity to maintain about 1,000 animals.
The nutritional requirements of the animals would be provided in the Gokul Gram through in-house fodder production.
The disease-free status of Gokul Gram would be maintained through regular screening of animals for important diseases like brucellosis, tuberculosis (TB) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (JD).
An in-built dispensary and artifical insemination (AI) centre would be an integral part of the Gokul Gram.
Gokul Grams would also be set up near to metropolitan cities for managing urban cattle. Metropolitan Gokul Grams would focus on the genetic upgradation of urban cattle.
Cattle rearing has been a traditional livelihood in India, and is closely linked to agricultural economy.
India, with 199 million cattle, has 14.5 per cent of the world’s cattle population. Of this, 83 per cent (i.e. 166 million) are indigenous.
Most of the indigenous cattle (about 80 per cent) are non-descript, and only 20 per cent belong to breeds recognised by the National Bureau of Genetic Resources.
The cattle genetic resource of India is represented by 37 recognised indigenous breeds. There are 13 recognised buffalo breeds.
Indigenous cattle, in India, are robust and resilient and are particularly suited to the climate and environment of their respective breeding tracts.
They are endowed with qualities of heat tolerance, resistance to diseases and the ability to thrive under extreme climatic stress and less-than-optimal nutrition.
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