Emerging technology to enrich livestock
'The emerging embryo transfer technology can improve the productivity of our dairy animals by multiplying the germplasm in a very short time, Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar said here on Saturday.
Speaking after inaugurating a state-of-the-art semen station at the Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute(CFSPTI) at Hessaraghatta here he said the Agriculture Department has recently revised the guidelines for import of germplasm so as to ensure the best quality germplasm conforming to the highest standards.
He said that to overcome financial constraints, the central government has been providing funding and technical support to the States to improve the breeding programmes and services. “Under the National Project for Cattle and Buffalo Breeding (NPCBB), the central government has till date provided assistance to the tune of Rs 550 crore to 28 states and one union territory to support breeding programmes” he said.
Dairy Plan
Pawar also pointed out that the National Dairy Development Board had prepared a ‘national dairy plan’ under which all issues will be addressed with a view to achieve 180 million metric tonnes milk production target by the 13th Five Year Plan.
The state-of-the-art semen station is equipped with all modern scientific concepts of semen collection, processing, package technologies along with complete bio-security measures. The station permits scientist to produce disease free semen of the highest quality standards and the frozen semen produced here are used throughout the country for the Artificial Insemination programme.
The station also provides breeding inputs of the highest technical standards to the livestock farmers.
