Centre for creating new bovine breeds

The ABIP aims at 2 lakh pregnancies using in vitro fertilization or (IVF) technology in the next 5 years. Subsidy at the rate of Rs5,000 per assured pregnancy is made available to farmers

New Delhi: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), under the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, has urged State governments and Union Territories (UTs) administrators to support the implementation of the Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme (ABIP).

In a communiqué to Chief Secretaries and UT administrators, DAHD Additional Secretary Varsha Joshi requested them to issue "necessary instructions for granting permission for movement of ultrasound machine[s] by identified service providers/bovine IVF labs," official sources told Bizz Buzz.

The ABIP aims at 2 lakh pregnancies using in vitro fertilization or (IVF) technology in the next five years. Subsidy at the rate of Rs5,000 per assured pregnancy is made available to farmers. The Centre's communiqué to states is to make bovine IVF technology available at farmers' doorstep.

The DAHD has been implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) with the aim of development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgrade of bovine population, enhancement of milk production, and productivity of bovines. The aim is to make dairying more remunerative to the farmers.

The RGM intends to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner. Under the Nationwide Artificial Insemination (AI) Programme, artificial insemination services have been made available free of cost at farmers' doorstep. As many as 3.5 crore animals have been covered and on 4.33 crore AI has been performed. Around 2.28 crore farmers have benefitted under the programme.

Nineteen bovine IVF and embryo transfer technology (ETT) labs have been made operational.