India has the largest cattle and buffalo population in the world. It ranks first in this category with 33.38 per cent of the total world’s cattle population. However, its annual productivity per animal is far less than average, at 1777 kg versus 2699 kg worldwide. The dairy sector has emerged as one of the most important sectors in the country and has a direct bearing on food security, livelihoods, and economic growth. Keeping in mind the importance of the dairy sector, the government has launched various schemes to promote the dairy sector and benefit small farmers. Here are the top 3 government schemes for dairy farming that no dairy farmer can afford to miss.
1. National Programme For Bovine Breeding And Dairy Development
The National Programme For Bovine Breeding And Dairy Development (NPBBDD) is a part of Rashtriya Gokul Mission and was initiated by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries to integrate milk production and other dairying activities for increasing milk production and productivity in the country. The programme envisages various useful measures taken for the dairy farmers like-
- Development of E-Pashuhaat portal – The E-Pashuhaat portal was launched to give the livestock market an organized structure and boost dairy productivity The portal connects breeders with farmers and works as an e-trading market for livestock germplasm and other related services. It also provides access to various entities dealing with embryos, frozen semen, and livestock certifications.
- Gopal Ratna Award – The Gopal Ratna Award is given by the Government of India every year with the objective of conservation of indigenous cattle breeds. The award is given every year to three best-kept indigenous herds. The award includes incentives of Rs. 5 Lakh, Rs.3 Lakh, and Rs. 2 Lakh each for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd positions respectively.
E – Pashuhaat Portal
2. National Animal Disease Control Programme
The National Animal Disease Control Programme was started to vaccinate the cattle in the country in order to prevent two prominent diseases namely Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and brucellosis. Both FMD and brucellosis adversely impacts the milk productivity in the cows and buffaloes and can ruin the livestock asset of a dairy farmer. The diseases have a high transmitting rate and can even affect the farmer and dairy workers. The scheme covers 100% vaccination cost of the cows and buffaloes and aims at increasing domestic production in the country and the record of animal vaccination is recorded in Animal Health Card.
3. Accelerated Fodder Development Programme
The Accelerated Fodder Development Programme was started for those who take up fodder cultivation on their farms to fight fodder scarcity in the country. Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs. 3200/hectare (up to max. Area of 2 hectares) is provided for taking up additional production of fodder. The beneficiaries under the scheme include farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and farmer cooperatives.
India’s dairy industry is booming and the government has come up with various schemes to help farmers. If you are a dairy farmer, it is important to be aware of all these schemes so that you can take advantage of them and get the maximum benefit from them. In this blog, we have tried to cover three government schemes that every dairy farmer should know about.
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