The ITC-supported Artificial Insemination technician provides doorstep service to the farmer, helping produce high milk-yielding cross breeds

India has the largest cattle population in the world. Almost every rural household in India, whether landed or landless, owns livestock. However, average milk yield at 300 kg per lactation is abysmally low due to severe genetic erosion and fodder scarcity.

Dairy farming requires low investment and has the potential to create attractive livelihood opportunities for the economically challenged sections of rural India, provided livestock can be genetically upgraded through systematic and scientific animal husbandry.

In a concerted endeavour to increase milk yield, ITC is spearheading a Livestock Development programme in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. In collaboration with BAIF Development Research Foundation, a national NGO specialising in livestock development, ITC assists small and landless farmers to cross-breed their low milk-yielding cattle with high-yielding breeds like Jersey and Holstein-Friesian. The Company provides a basket of services at the farmer's doorstep to facilitate cross-breeding.

The range of services that ITC offers includes:

• Artificial Insemination (AI), using high quality frozen semen from BAIF's state-of-the-art production centre in Pune
• Regular follow-up like investigation of diseases, vaccination and nutritional advice
• Pre and post-natal care for artificially inseminated cattle and the progeny

Livestock development services at the farmer’s doorstep

A BAIF technician receiving a farmer’s call.         Frozen semen stored in a cryocan being transferred to a mobile unit. The mobile unit enables quick response to farmer requests.        Artificial insemination in progress.   Follow-up visit by the technician to the farmer to advise on pre & post-natal cattle care.

ITC trains diploma and degree holders in agriculture and animal science to become Artificial Insemination technicians to enhance livestock management skills in rural areas. The technicians provide service to the farmers right at their doorstep. ITC also promotes low-cost "complete feed," helping reduce the pressure on invaluable forest resources and pastures.

Cross-bred cattle yield about 2100-2700 kg of milk per lactation, as compared to the current level of 300 kgs. ITC's Livestock Development programme is reaching out every year, to 15,000 farmers in 2000 villages, inseminating over 50,000 cattle through 95 Insemination Centres.

The programme has a resultant beneficial impact on the ecosystem as well. Improved cattle feed significantly boosts dung production, thereby producing much more farm manure and biogas. Even small farmers are consequently able to instal biogas plants, reducing their dependence on fuelwood, thereby conserving precious forests.