Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 25 (HBTV): Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj (FAHD&PR), Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh chaired the Workshop on Breed Development in India on July 12, 2025, at Indira Gandhi Convention Centre in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath graced the occasion as chief guest. Dharmpal Singh, Minister of Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development, Uttar Pradesh, and Gabriel D. Wangsu, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Arunachal Pradesh, were also present.
The workshop brought together experts from Central and State Governments, research organisations, private institutions, policymakers, and progressive farmers from across the country to deliberate on strategies for strengthening indigenous breed development and genetic improvement in the livestock sector.
More than 700 livestock farmers, veterinarians, and senior officials from the Centre and States/UTs attended the event. The aim of the workshop was to formulate strategies to improve indigenous livestock breeds across India.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Artificial Insemination Training Institute in Gorakhpur. Additionally, three key infrastructure projects under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) were inaugurated: Gyandhara Industries Pvt. Ltd in Amethi, Chanchala Foods India Pvt. Ltd in Bareilly, and Brijwasi Keshav Milk Product in Mathura.
The Framework for the Establishment of Breeders Associations was also launched during the workshop to strengthen breed conservation and promote organised breeder networks across the country.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed gratitude to the Union Minister for selecting Uttar Pradesh as the venue for the pivotal workshop. He noted that livestock farmers play a key role in driving national growth and strengthening rural economies. Addressing the challenge of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), he stated that the State is committed to making its livestock FMD-free to improve farmer prosperity.
He also emphasised the importance of climate, hygiene, and proper care in improving livestock productivity and encouraged farmers to adopt advanced technologies to rear indigenous breeds more effectively.
Highlighting successful women-led milk unions in Jhansi, the Chief Minister said scientific livestock rearing is transforming rural economies. He also acknowledged the work of Go-Seva Aayog, Uttar Pradesh, in breed improvement and training, and advocated for natural farming and sustainable practices. These efforts, he said, would boost farmer incomes and promote self-reliance in the livestock sector.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh underscored the importance of increasing milk productivity nationwide. He said the workshop is a key step towards breed improvement through advanced technologies such as In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Sex Sorted Semen (SSS), aimed at improving livestock quality and farmer incomes.
He also noted the Government of India's efforts to control and eradicate FMD and appreciated the role of MAITRIs in bringing Artificial Insemination (AI) technology directly to farmers.
The Minister also highlighted the sustainable model in India's dairy sector and extended thanks to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for attending the event as Chief Guest.
Dharmpal Singh, Uttar Pradesh’s Minister of Animal Husbandry, said the State is making significant progress in livestock development through farmer-centric policies and is actively using AI, IVF, and SSS technologies to improve breeds.
Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, emphasised livestock development as critical to national progress and the achievement of sustainable development goals. She outlined a strategic vision focused on productivity enhancement, technological advancement, and region-specific interventions.
The Chief Minister and the Union Minister also interacted directly with progressive livestock farmers, who shared field-level experiences and suggestions.
Two panel discussions were held on strategies and innovations to boost genetic progress and technology adoption in the livestock sector. The sessions were moderated by Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, DAHD, GoI, and Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, DAHD. Stakeholders, scientists, and policymakers participated, sharing successful models and emphasising the importance of breed selection, performance tracking, and reproductive technologies.
The workshop marked a significant step in aligning India’s breed development efforts with global standards, with a focus on sustainability, productivity, and enhanced livelihoods for livestock farmers.
(ANI)