Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, will bestow the National Gopal Ratna Awards on November 26 at the Veterinary College Ground in Guwahati, Assam. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is organizing the ceremony as part of the National Milk Day celebration.
The award stands as one of the highest national recognitions in the livestock and dairy sector. It seeks to acknowledge and motivate individuals such as farmers engaged in the rearing of indigenous animals, artificial insemination technicians, and dairy cooperative societies, milk producer companies, and dairy farmers’ producer organizations working in this sector.
The award is categorized into three sections: Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cattle/Buffalo Breeds, Best Dairy Cooperative/Milk Producer Company/Dairy Farmer Producer Organization, and Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT).
Recipients of the award will receive a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh for the 1st rank, Rs. 3 lakh for the 2nd rank, and Rs. 2 lakh for the 3rd rank, along with a Certificate of Merit and a memento in the first two categories, i.e., Best Dairy Farmer and Best DCS/FPO/MPCs.
In the case of the Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) category, the National Gopal Ratna Award-2023 will include a Certificate of Merit and a memento.
The livestock sector plays a crucial role in the Indian economy, constituting one-third of the agriculture and allied sector GVA with a growth rate of over 8%. Animal husbandry, dairying, and fisheries activities contribute significantly to farmer income, particularly among the landless, small and marginal farmers, and women. Additionally, they provide affordable and nutritious food to millions of people.
Recognizing the importance of indigenous bovine breeds in the national economy, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, initiated the “Rashtriya Gokul Mission” in December 2014. This mission, part of the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development, aims to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds.
