Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that Central Government have taken various steps to boost milk production and develop better breeds of bovine. There is 199 million bovine population in India, which constitutes 14% of total bovine population in the world. Out of this 83% are desi cows.
Interacting with media persons Singh said that the bovine genetic resource of India is represented by 37 well-recognised indigenous breeds of cattle and 13 breeds of buffaloes. The potential to enhance the productivity of the indigenous breeds through professional farm management and superior nutrients, as well as gradation of indigenous bovine germplasm will be done with an outlay of Rs, 500 crores, he added.
Shri Singh said that National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre is being set up to protect indigenous breeds. Nucleus herd will be set up to increase productivity and to ensure genetic advancement of 37 cow breeding, 13 buffaloes breeds.
In order to promote Agri Rail Network for transportation of milk, orders have been placed by AMUL and NDDB on behalf of Dairy Cooperative Federation for procurement of 36 new Rail Milk Tankers and will be made available by railways. This will help in movement of milk from milk surplus areas to areas of demand providing dairy farmers with greater market area, he said.
