How is Rashtriya Gokul's Mission Revolutionising India's Milk Industry?
India's economy runs on many pillars, and dairy is among the strongest. As the largest milk producer in the world, India contributes close to 24% of global milk output. But beyond numbers, dairy plays a crucial role in rural livelihoods. For millions of Indian households, it's a daily source of income, nutrition, and economic stability.
To keep this sector thriving, the Government of India continues to roll out schemes that support farmers, promote indigenous breeds, and improve milk quality. One such impactful initiative is the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. This programme focuses on conserving native cattle and boosting milk production through modern, scientific methods.
It's strengthening India's entire milk supply chain by empowering farmers and supporting businesses. Let's look at how this mission is helping reshape India's dairy industry.
What is Rashtriya Gokul Mission?
The Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a flagship programme launched by the Government of India in 2014. Its main goal is to conserve and develop indigenous cattle breeds. These native breeds, such as Gir, Sahiwal, and Red Sindhi, are well adapted to India’s climate. The mission supports farmers by improving the quality and productivity of these breeds. It is a key part of the government’s effort to strengthen the dairy sector under the larger umbrella of the PM Modi dairy scheme.
The mission is implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, which Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh oversees. It aims to increase milk production while preserving the country’s rich genetic heritage of cattle.
What are the Objectives of the Rashtiya Gokul Mission?
The Rashtriya Gokul Mission focuses on boosting milk production while preserving India’s native cattle breeds. Its key objectives include:
Conserving Indigenous Breeds: Protect and develop native breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, and Red Sindhi, which are well adapted to Indian conditions.
Setting Up Gokul Grams: Establish specialised cattle breeding centres called Gokul Grams that focus on breeding and conservation of indigenous cattle.
Promoting Milk Processing Units: Encouraging milk processing units and cold storage facilities to create sustainable dairy farming clusters. This supports collective growth, reduces waste, and improves milk production quality.
Improving Milk Production: Use scientific breeding techniques and advanced technology to increase milk yield from native breeds.
Expanding Artificial Insemination (AI): Enhance AI services to improve cattle genetics and health.
Supporting Farmers: Empower small and marginal farmers by improving cattle productivity and offering better breeding services.
Promoting Sustainable Practices: Encourage eco-friendly dairy farming to maintain long-term sustainability.
Also Read: What are the Steps for Getting a Kota Dairy Franchise?
What is the Current Status of the Dairy Industry in India?
India's dairy sector is the basis of its agricultural economy. It showcases remarkable growth and significant contributions to rural livelihoods and the national GDP:
Milk Production: India's milk production reached a record 239.3 million tonnes in the fiscal year 2023–24, reflecting a steady annual growth rate of approximately 4%. This marks a significant increase from 146.3 million tonnes in 2014–15, highlighting the sector's expansion over the past decade.
Global Leadership: Maintaining its position as the world's largest milk producer, India accounts for about 24–25% of global milk production.
Farmer Participation: The dairy industry supports approximately 80 million farmers, predominantly small-scale producers. This highlights dairy farming's role in providing stable livelihoods, especially in rural areas.
Economic Contribution: Dairy contributes significantly to India's economy, accounting for about 4–5% of the national GDP. This positions dairy as a vital sector within the broader agricultural economy.
Per Capita Availability: The per capita availability of milk has steadily increased, reaching 471 grams per day in 2023–24, up from 459 grams per day in the previous year. This rise indicates improved access to milk among the population.
Future Targets: The government aims to elevate milk production to over 300 million tonnes by 2028. This is driven by continued support for indigenous breeds, technological advancements, and infrastructure development
What are the Challenges under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?
The following are the challenges faced by India’s dairy industry:
Many native cattle breeds were at risk due to crossbreeding and changing farming practices. These indigenous breeds are better suited to India’s climate and diseases, but their population has been shrinking.
The native breeds generally produce less milk than exotic breeds. Improving their productivity without losing genetic traits remains a challenge.
Many rural farmers lack access to modern breeding, healthcare, and management technologies. This limits the potential for increasing milk production.
One major challenge is increasing milk production while ensuring it is done sustainably and healthily. This is especially important as environmental conditions continue to change.
What are the Achievements of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?
The following are the achievements under the Rashtriya Gokul milk production scheme:
Since the launch of the RGM and related government initiatives, India’s milk production has surged by 63.55% in the last 10 years. Per capita milk availability has increased from 307 grams/day in 2013-14 to 471 grams/day in 2023-24.
The productivity of milch animals has improved by 26.34% over the same period.
Under the Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP), over 8.39 crore animals have been covered across 605 districts, benefiting 5.21 crore farmers.
RGM introduced cutting-edge technologies like in vitro fertilisation (IVF) directly to farmers. So far, 22 IVF labs have been set up, and 2,541 high genetic merit (HGM) calves have been born.
The scheme supports scientific bull production, indigenous breed conservation, and the development of bovine genomic chips, which is a step towards sustainable breed improvement.
The scheme is designed to increase milk yield and ensure better returns. It aims to improve the livelihoods of the 8.5 crore Indians engaged in dairy farming.
Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) have been deployed to deliver doorstep animal healthcare services in remote areas, ensuring timely treatment and improved livestock productivity.
What are the Revisions in the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?
In March 2025, the Rashtriya Gokul Mission was revised with new initiatives:
Heifer Rearing Centres (HRCs): Implementing agencies receive 35% of the capital cost as a one-time assistance for establishing 30 housing facilities accommodating 15,000 heifers (cows).
Interest Subvention for Farmers: To encourage the purchase of High Genetic Merit (HGM) IVF heifers, farmers are offered a 3% interest subvention on loans taken from milk unions, financial institutions, or banks.
Conclusion
Schemes like RGM further motivate and encourage those working in the dairy industry to give their best. Businesses and trusted dairy product suppliers in Rajasthan, like Kota Fresh, are playing a vital role by adopting these advances to ensure fresh and reliable dairy products reach consumers every day.
This collaboration between government initiatives and local dairy businesses strengthens the entire supply chain, supports livelihoods, and meets the growing demand for quality milk in India.
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