The revised NPDD and RGM are aligned with the vision of “White Revolution 2.0,” ensuring the dairy sector’s sustained growth and productivity.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the revised National Program for Dairy Development (NPDD) and the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) with a total enhanced outlay of Rs 6,190 crore. These schemes aim to modernize dairy infrastructure, boost milk production, and enhance farmers’ incomes. The Cabinet has also approved the establishment of a new Brownfield Ammonia-Urea Complex, Namrup IV Fertilizer Plant, within the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL) in Namrup, Assam.
Briefing on the Cabinet’s decisions, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the revised NPDD will boost the dairy sector by developing infrastructure for milk procurement, expanding processing capacity, and ensuring better quality control. The Rashtriya Gokul Mission will focus on enhancing milk productivity through artificial insemination (AI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Revised National Program for Dairy Development (NPDD)
The NPDD, a Central Sector Scheme, has been allocated an additional Rs 1,000 crore, bringing its total budget to Rs 2,790 crore for the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26). The revised scheme focuses on strengthening milk procurement, processing capacity, and quality control mechanisms, ultimately benefiting dairy farmers across the country.
Key Features of NPDD:
- Component A: Focuses on improving dairy infrastructure, including milk chilling plants, advanced milk testing laboratories, and the establishment of new village dairy cooperative societies. Special attention is given to the North Eastern Region (NER), hilly regions, and Union Territories.
- Component B – “Dairying through Cooperatives (DTC)”: This component will continue collaboration with the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to enhance dairy production and marketing infrastructure in nine states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
The revised NPDD is expected to establish 10,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies and strengthen dairy processing in the North Eastern Region (NER). Additionally, it will support the formation of two Milk Producer Companies (MPCs) with dedicated grant assistance. It focuses on the protection and preservation of indigenous bovine breeds through systematic and scientific efforts in bull production and the development of indigenous bovine genomic chips.
Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)
The Cabinet also approved the revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), allocating an additional Rs 1,000 crore, bringing its total outlay to Rs 3,400 crore for the 15th Finance Commission cycle. The mission aims to improve the genetic potential of indigenous cattle and ensure sustainable growth in the livestock sector.
Key Features of RGM:
- One-time assistance of 35% of the capital cost for setting up 30 Heifer Rearing Centres with a total capacity of 15,000 heifers.
- A 3% interest subvention for farmers purchasing high-genetic-merit IVF heifers through milk unions, banks, or financial institutions.
- Continuation of breed improvement programs, artificial insemination initiatives, and the strengthening of Central Cattle Breeding Farms.
The Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP) under the RGM provides free-of-cost Artificial Insemination (AI) at farmers’ doorsteps in 605 districts across the country, where baseline AI coverage was below 50%. To date, over 8.39 crore animals have been covered, and 5.21 crore farmers have benefited, said a government press release.
RGM has also been at the forefront of bringing the latest technological interventions in breeding to farmers’ doorsteps. The revised NPDD and RGM are aligned with the vision of “White Revolution 2.0,” ensuring the dairy sector’s sustained growth and productivity.
