What is the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 17, Nov 2021

Reference News:

A review meeting on the performance of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission was held recently.

What is the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?

‘Rashtriya Gokul Mission’ was launched in 2014 to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds, under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development (NPBBD).

Key objectives of the mission

• Development and conservation of indigenous breeds.
• Undertake breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock.
• Enhance milk production and productivity.
• Upgrade nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi.
• Distribute disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service.

Implementation

1. It is being implemented through the “State Implementing Agency’ Livestock Development Boards, i.e., SIA’s (LDB’s).
2. State Gauseva Ayogs are mandated to sponsor proposals to the SIA’s (LDB’s) and monitor implementation of the sponsored proposal.
3. The “Participating Agencies” like CFSPTI, CCBFs, ICAR, Universities, Colleges, NGO’s, Cooperative Societies and Gaushalas with best germplasm.

What are Gokul Grams?

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission envisages the establishment of integrated cattle development centers, ‘Gokul Grams’ to develop indigenous breeds including up to 40% nondescript breeds.

Gokul Grams will be established in:

• The native breeding tracts and
• Near metropolitan cities for housing the urban cattle.

Objectives:

• Promote indigenous cattle rearing and conservation in a scientific manner.
• Propagate high genetic merit bulls of indigenous breeds.
• Optimize modern Farm Management practices and promote Common Resource Management.
• Utilize animal waste in an economical way i.e. Cow Dung, Cow Urine.

Key features of Gokul Grams

• They will be self-sustaining and will generate economic resources from sale of A2 milk organic manure, vermi-composting, urine distillates, and production of electricity fraom bio gas for in house consumption and sale of animal products.
• They will also function as state of the art in situ training centre for Farmers, Breeders and MAITRI’s.
• Gokul Grams 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.
• The Gokul Gram will maintain milch and unproductive animals in the ratio of 60:40 and will have the capacity to maintain about 1000 animals.
• Nutritional requirements of the animals will be provided in the Gokul Gram through in house fodder production.