Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Indian Council of Agricultural Research has informed that ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal (Haryana), and Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat), are undertaking research on basic and applied aspects for developing an alternate method of sexing of cattle semen under a project titled “Incentivising research in agriculture for developing an alternative method for sexing of semen as the technology” since 2015.
Steps taken by the Government to conserve and develop indigenous breeds of cattle include i) Nationwide Artificial Insemination (AI) programme was launched on September 11, 2019, for implementation in 600 districts with less than 50% Artificial Insemination coverage covering 100 villages per district and 200 animals per village. During the programme from September 15, 2019, to March 15, 2020 about 1.2 crore animals will be covered. Sso far 22 lakh Artificial inseminations have been performed and 12.1 lakh farmers had benefitted till January 31, 2020.
ii) Krishi Kalyan Abhiyan: Artificial Insemination Coverage (AI) with High Yielding Indigenous Breeds in 112 aspirational districts identified by NITI Aayog. Under the programme 9.05 lakh artificial inseminations have been performed for protection of indigenous breeds.
iii) Establishment/strengthening of Embryo Transfer and In-Vitro Fertilisation centres: Projects for strengthening/ establishment of 30 ETT/IVF labs have been sanctioned.. Out of 30 labs approved under the scheme, 19 labs have been established. Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Breeds (CoEIB) are under establishment for providing training in ETT, IVF, Sex Sorted Semen production, Genomics and retraining of skilled manpower in latest developments in breeding technologies.
Twentyone Integrated indigenous cattle development Centres – “Gokul Grams”- are being established under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission with an objective conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds in a scientific and holistic manner.
In order to create awareness and reward for farmers and institutions engaged in scientific management of recognised Indigenous cattle breeds, National Gopal Ratna and National Kamdhenu Award have been instituted under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
This information was given in a written reply by the Minister of State For Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan in Lok Sabha on February 4, 2020, according to a PIB release.