The National Gopal Ratna Awards 2024

 

Introduction to the National Gopal Ratna Awards

- The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has announced the recipients of the National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) 2024, under the authority of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM).

- It is considered one of the highest honours in the livestock and dairy sector.

- The awards are presented annually on National Milk Day, which falls on the 26th of November. This year the awards will be given on 26th November 2024.

 

Award Categories

- The award categories include Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cattle/Buffalo Breeds, Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT), and Best Dairy Cooperative/Milk Producer Company/Dairy Farmer Producer Organisation.

- In 2024, special awards for the North Eastern Region (NER) were introduced.

 

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)

- The Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched in 2014 with the purpose of conserving and developing indigenous breeds.

- This mission is carried out under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development (NPBBDD).

 

The National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development

- The National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development consists of two main components.

- The first component, the National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB), is responsible for the conservation and development of recognised indigenous breeds.

- The second component, the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), is focused on creating infrastructure related to production, procurement, processing, and marketing by milk unions and federations.

 

Importance of the National Gopal Ratna Awards

- The awards aim to recognise and honour the exceptional contributions made towards the conservation and development of indigenous breeds in the livestock and dairy sector.

- They serve as motivation for dairy farmers and organisations to continue their efforts in improving the dairy sector.

- The awards also highlight the importance of indigenous cattle breeds and their role in our economy and biodiversity.