India emerging as the largest producer of milk: Radha Mohan Singh

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers welfare Radha Mohan Singh in Pashu Arogya Mela conducted in Semwapur of Motihri area of Bihar said that Rs.4L crore has been generated in the year 2016-17 from the 163.7 million tonne milk produced in the country. He said that in 2015-16, Bihar alone has contributed for 5.33% of the whole countries milk production. And as the cattle population in the state is more when compared to the other states, it is necessary for the state and the central government to focus more on the state for the milk production and cattle rearing. He said that at present there are 19 million of cattle in the country which accounts for 14% of the cattle population in the world. He said that compared to men, women are more engaged into milk production activities. The Minister said that indigenous cattle breeds are least affected by the climate change and there is no problem with their reproductive pattern.

The Minister said that the central government has started the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, to conserve and propagate indigenous breeds in an organized and scientific manner.He said that till now they have sanctioned Rs.1077cr under this scheme and Rs.499.08cr has been released. He said for Bihar alone Rs.67cr has been sanctioned under this scheme out of which Rs22.5cr has been allocated. The Minister has also said that setting up of Gokul gram is under this scheme which will consist of 500 animals with high genetic quality like Lal Sindhi, Sahiwal and Gir breeds.