Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)

About Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) has been launched in December 2014 with an outlay of Rs 2025 crore for development and conservation of indigenous breeds through selective breeding in the breeding tract and genetic upgradation of nondescript bovine population. The scheme comprises of two components namely National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) and National Mission on Bovine Productivity (NMBP).

Objectives of Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

1. Development and conservation of indigenous breeds;
2. Breed improvement programme for indigenous breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock;
3. Enhancing milk production and productivity of bovine population by increasing disease free high genetic merit female population and check on spread of diseases ;
4. Upgrading nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi ;
5. Distribution of disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service;
6. To bring all breedable females under organised breeding through AI or natural service using germ plasm of high genetic merits;
7. To arrange quality Artificial Insemination (AI) services at farmers’ doorstep;
8. To create e-market portal for bovine germplasm for connecting breeders and farmers;
9. To increase trade of livestock and livestock products by meeting out sanitary and phyto sanitary (SPS) issues;
10. 10.To select breeding bulls of high genetic merit at a young age through application of genomics.

Initiatives under Rashtriya Gokul Mission

Several initiatives were taken under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission for the conservation and development of the indigenous bovine breeds. Some of the major initiatives taken by the Government of India during the implementation of this mission are mentioned below:

• Various cattle development centres were established to develop indigenous breeds. These development centres were known as Gokul Grams.
• Initiating different awards for the farmers to encourage them to rear these indigenous breeds. Gopal Ratna award was given to the farmers for best management and maintenance of the Indigenous Breed while the Kamdhenu award was given for best managed Indigenous herd by Institutions/Trusts/ NGOs/ Gaushalas or best-managed Breeders’ societies.
• Establishment of National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre (NKBC) as a centre of excellence for the development and conservation of indigenous breeds in a scientific way.
• Developing an e-market portal for connecting the breeders and farmers. This e-market portal was named as ‘E-Pashu Haat – Nakul Prajnan Bazaar’.
• An animal wellness program, Pashu Sanjivani, was established that encompassed the provision of animal health cards.
• Use of advanced reproductive technology for a disease-free female bovine. This technology included In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET).
• Establishment of National Bovine Genomic Center for Indigenous Breeds (NBGC-IB).
• PM recently inaugurated the following under Rashtriya Gokul Mission:
• Semen Station with state-of-the-art facilities in Purnea, Bihar.
• IVF lab established at Animal Sciences University, Patna.
• Sex sorted semen in artificial insemination by Baroni Milk Union in Begusarai district of Bihar.

Why conservation of Indigenous breeds is the need of the hour?

Indigenous bovines are robust and resilient and are particularly suited to the climate and environment of their respective breeding tracts and productivity of indigenous breeds is less likely to be impacted by the adversities of climate change.

The milk of indigenous animals is high in fat and SNF content (The substances in milk other than butterfat and water in the form of casein, lactose, vitamins, and minerals which contribute significantly to the nutritive value of milk)

Other Initiative

• National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre: (NKBC) is being established as a Centre of Excellence to develop and conserve Indigenous Breeds in a holistic and scientific manner.
• “E-Pashu Haat”– Nakul Prajnan Bazaar: An e-market portal connecting breeders and farmers, for quality- disease-free bovine germplasm.
• Pashu Sanjivni: An animal wellness program encompassing the provision of animal health cards (‘Nakul Swasthya Patra’) along with UID identification and uploading data on National DataBase.
• Advanced Reproductive Technology: Including Assisted Reproductive Technique- In-vitro Fertilization (IVF)/ Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET) and sex-sorted semen technique to improve the availability of disease-free female bovines.
• National Bovine Genomic Center for Indigenous Breeds (NBGC-IB) established for selection of breeding bulls of high genetic merit at a young age using highly precise gene-based technology.

Source: Dept. of Animal Husbandry and Dairying

AGRICULTURE