Centre raises Rashtriya Gokul Mission outlay to Rs 3,400 crore to boost rural income

Cow

Centre has approved the revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) to boost India’s livestock with an additional Rs 1,000 crore outlay, taking the total allocation to Rs 3,400 crore, in an effort to boost rural income through milk production.

The two new incentives added to RGM on March 19 include a one-time assistance of 35 percent of the capital cost incurred during the establishment of Heifer Rearing Centres  for 30 housing facilities with total 15,000 heifer cows. Additionally, a 3 percent interest subvention will be offered on loans taken by famers to purchase high genetic merit (HGM) IVF heifers. The government said this will help in ‘systemic induction of high yielding breeds’.

The revised mission has been approved with the allocation of Rs 3,400 crore for the 15th Finance Commission cycle with enhanced allocations for FY25 and FY26.

"The scheme is for continuation of ongoing activities of Rashtriya Gokul Mission- strengthening of semen stations, Artificial Insemination network, implementation of bull production programme, accelerated breed improvement programme using sex sorted semen, skill development, farmer awareness, support for innovative activities including establishment of Centre of Excellence, strengthening of Central Cattle Breeding Farms and strengthening of Central Cattle Breeding Farms without any change in the pattern of assistance in any of these activities," the government said.

India’s milk production has increased by 63.55 percent in the last ten years, with availability of milk per person rising to 471 grams per day in FY24 as compared to 307 grams per day in FY14. The government added that the productivity of livestocks too has increased by 26.34 percent in the last ten years.

"The scheme is set to significantly boost milk production and productivity, ultimately increasing farmers' incomes. It focuses on the protection and preservation of India’s indigenous bovine breeds through systematic and scientific efforts in bull production and the development of indigenous bovine genomic chips. Additionally, in Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has become an established technology, due to the initiatives taken under the scheme. This initiative will not only enhance productivity but also improves livelihoods of 8.5 crores farmers engaged in Dairying," the government said.