Gokul Grams to be set up for developing indigenous cattle breeds

The Ministry of Agriculture has a proposal to set up Integrated Indigenous Cattle Centres or Gokul Grams in the breeding tracts of indigenous breeds.
Key features of Gokul Grams:

• These centres will be established in the native breeding tracts and near metropolitan cities for housing the urban cattle.
• Centres for development of Indigenous Breeds and a dependable source for supply of high genetic breeding stock to the farmers in the breeding tract.
• Self sustaining and will generate economic resources from sale of A2 milk, organic manure, vermi-composting, urine distillates, and production of electricity from bio gas for in house consumption and sale of animal products.
• To function as state of the art in situ training centre for Farmers, Breeders and MAITRI’s.
• Each Gokul Gram will be set up by the EIA and function under the auspices of the SIA/ EIA or in a PPP mode.
• Each centre will maintain milch and unproductive animals in the ratio of 60:40 and will have the capacity to maintain about 1000 animals.
• In house fodder production to provide for the nutritional requirements of the animals in the Gokul Gram.
• Regular screening of animals for important diseases like brucellosis, TB and JD.
• Inbuilt dispensary and AI centre at each Gokul Gram.
• Gokul Gram near metropolitan cities for managing urban cattle. It will focus on genetic upgradation of urban cattle.  

Background
Traditionally, cattle-rearing has been an important source of livelihood in India and is closely associated with agricultural economy. India with 199 million cattle has 14.5% of the world cattle population. Of this, 83% i.e. 166 million are indigenous. Nearly 80% of the indigenous cattle are non- descript and only 20% belong to breeds recognized by National Bureau of Genetic Resources. The cattle genetic resource of India is represented by 37 well recognized indigenous breeds and there are 13 recognized 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.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2014

Category: Government Schemes Current Affairs