Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11, 2025, gave a major boost to India’s livestock and dairy sector by inaugurating and laying the foundation for projects worth Rs 1,166 crore. The announcements were made at an event in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister also launched two key agriculture schemes, the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said these initiatives were part of a broader strategy to strengthen India’s agri-allied ecosystem and empower small and landless farmers. “The PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is also focusing on livestock. More than 125 crore vaccines have been administered free of cost to protect animals from diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease. Healthy animals mean reduced worries for farmers,” he said. He further announced that local-level campaigns on animal health will soon be launched under the scheme.
Emphasizing diversification in rural income, the Prime Minister added, “Where farming isn’t possible, animal husbandry and fisheries need to be promoted. To increase farmers’ income, our government is providing options beyond traditional agriculture.”
A major highlight of the day was the inauguration of the North East’s first Livestock IVF Laboratory in Guwahati, Assam. Established under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission with an investment of Rs 28.93 crore, this state-of-the-art facility is expected to enhance dairy development and breed improvement across the northeastern states.
Under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), several large-scale dairy infrastructure projects were inaugurated. These included a Rs 460 crore Mehsana Milk Union project featuring a 120 metric tonne-per-day milk powder plant and a 3.5 lakh litres-per-day UHT plant. Similar facilities were launched in Indore, Bhilwara, and Karimnagar, Telangana, while the foundation stone was laid for an Integrated Dairy Plant and a 200 TPD Cattle Feed Plant in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, with a total investment of Rs 219 crore.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated 10 projects worth Rs 303.81 crore under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), aimed at strengthening India’s feed, milk, and animal product processing capabilities.
In another key development, over 2,000 newly trained MAITRIs (Multipurpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India) from Uttar Pradesh received certificates under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. Across India, more than 38,000 MAITRIs have now been inducted to enhance last-mile breeding services and livestock productivity.
These initiatives are expected to improve animal health, increase milk production, and strengthen value chains, providing sustainable livelihoods and economic security to farmers across the country.
