The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) since 2014 for development and conservation of indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines. The objectives of the scheme are: (i) to enhance productivity of bovines and increasing milk production in a sustainable manner using advanced technologies; (ii) to propagate use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes; (iii) to enhance Artificial insemination coverage through strengthening breeding network and delivery of Artificial insemination services at farmers doorstep and (iv) to promote indigenous cattle & buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.

The State of Gujarat is participating under Rashtriya Gokul Mission since inception of the scheme.  Due to implementation of Rashtriya Gokul Mission and other measures undertaken by the Department, milk production in the State has increased by 56.64 % from 116.91 lakhs tonnes in 2014-15 to 183.12 lakhs tonnes in 2023-24. Productivity of indigenous and non-descript cattle is increased by 19.57%between 2014-15 and 2023-24 from 4.19 kg/ animal / day in 2014-15 to 5.01 kg/animal/day in 2023-24.Similarly, productivity of buffaloes is increased by 7.46% between 2014-15 and 2023-24 from 4.96 kg/ animal / day during 2014-15 to 5.33 kg/animal/day during 2023-24.

The achievements of Rashtriya Gokul Mission in Gujarat are as follows:

1. Nationwide Artificial Insemination Program: Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is expanding artificial insemination coverage in the districts with less than 50% AI coverage to boost the milk production and productivity of bovines, including indigenous breeds. Under the programme Artificial Insemination services are delivered at farmers’ doorstep free of cost. In Gujarat, 37.59 lakh animals have been covered, with 53.00 lakh artificial inseminations performed, benefiting 24.34 lakh farmers and in Mehsana district 1.07 lakh animals have been covered, with 1.86 lakh artificial inseminations performed, benefiting 0.69 lakh farmers.

2. Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection: This program aims to produce high genetic merit bulls, including bulls of indigenous breeds. In Gujarat state Progeny testing is implemented for Gir breed of cattle and Mehsana breeds of buffaloes. Under the Pedigree selection programme Kankrej breed of cattle and Jaffarabadi and Banni breed of buffalo are covered. As on date, a total of 349 Gir, 27 Kankrej & 160 Mehsana bulls of high genetic merit are made available to semen stations.
3. Multi-purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs): Under the scheme MAITRIs are trained to deliver quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep. In Gujarat, during the last 3 years 527 MAITRIs have been trained under Rashtriya Gokul Mission out of which 4 MAITRIs are trained in Mehsana district.
4. Strengthening of Semen Station: A total of 38 semen stations have been covered under the scheme for strengthening and in Gujarat State 3 Semen Stations at Patan, Dhaol & Jagudan have been strengthened under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

5. Sex Semen Production: Under the component sex sorted semen is produced which is important for production female calves with up to 90% accuracy, thereby enhancing breed improvement and farmers' income. Under Rashtriya Gokul Mission a State of the art facility “Gujarat Bovine Semen Sexing Institute” has been established at State Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute, Patan and till date a total of 5,11,714 sex sorted semen doses have been produced. A total of 3593 sex sorted semen doses have been utilized in Mehsana district out of which 385 calves born reported so far, of which 94.55% are female calves.

Under Rashtriya Gokul Mission funds have been released as 100% Grant in aid for setting up of Gokul Grams as Integrated Indigenous Cattle Development Centers with the aim of conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds in a scientific and holistic manner. Further, as per the revised and realigned guidelines of Rashtriya Gokul Mission for 2021-2022 to 2025-2026 the component has been discontinued under the scheme. Funds have been released to Gujarat for establishment of Gokul Gram at Dharampur Porbandar.

This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

 

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