Bhubaneswar, March 18: As many as 31,38,487 farmers in Odisha have been benefitted in the Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM). The Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

A total of 5,74,20,400 farmers have been benefitted under the mission across the State.

This information was given by Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh in the Lok Sabha.

He informed that out of 14 components of Rashtriya Gokul Mission approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, the targets have been achieved for 11 components.

The achievement under three components namely Production of bulls through embryos, import of bulls and Implementation of IVF technology is low as the acceptability of newly introduced technology was poor among farmers due to its high cost, he said.

Government of India has recently launched Indigenously developed IVF media for reducing the cost of IVF technology, the Minister said.

“Notwithstanding all these challenges the Milk production has increased by 69.41 % over the past 11 years from 146.3 million tonnes during 2014-15 to 247.87 million metric tonnes during 2024-25. During the same period the per capita availability of milk is increased by 52.03% from 319 grams per day during 2014-15 to 485 gram per day during 2024-25. Overall productivity of cattle and buffaloes has increased by more than 36.63% between 2014-15 and 2024-25 which is highest productivity growth rate in the World,” said the Union Minister.

All States and Union territories are participating in implementation of the scheme since its inception in December 2014 for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds.