Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (September 15) inaugurated a Rs 10-crore Sex Sorted Semen facility at Purnea in Bihar, calling it a major step towards strengthening the dairy sector in Eastern and North-Eastern India. The centre has been set up under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission with assistance from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and has the capacity to produce five lakh doses every year.
The facility will use the indigenous ‘Gausort’ technology, developed under the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. Launched by Prime Minister in October 2024, the technology will make Sex Sorted Semen available to farmers at affordable rates, ensuring better access to advanced breeding practices.
Purnea semen station, where the facility is located, was established with central assistance of Rs 84.27 crore. It is one of the largest government-run semen stations in the country and the first of its kind catering to Eastern and North-Eastern states. The station already produces nearly 50 lakh doses annually and plays a crucial role in supporting dairy development in the region.
Semen sex-sorting technology helps increase the chances of producing female calves with up to 90 per cent accuracy. This reduces the financial strain on dairy farmers who otherwise spend resources on maintaining unproductive male calves. With more female calves, farmers can expand milk production, secure a steady supply of heifers and improve their incomes.
The government believes the new facility will directly benefit small and marginal farmers as well as landless labourers who rely on livestock rearing. The centre is expected to not only enhance dairy productivity but also contribute to rural economic growth by reducing costs and increasing returns for farmers.
