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Centre boosts Bihar’s livestock sector, Rs 241 crore released for dairy development
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Friday, 20 March, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying has announced a massive financial and infrastructural push for Bihar’s livestock and dairy sectors. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (alias Lalan Singh) informed the Lok Sabha recently that under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), 19 projects have been approved for the state with a total project cost exceeding Rs 346 crore.
Out of the central share of Rs 254.33 crore allocated for these projects, the Ministry has already released Rs 241.24 crore as of February 28, 2026. These projects focus on strengthening milk testing infrastructure and primary chilling facilities, aimed at increasing farmers' access to organized markets and enhancing the capacity of producer-owned institutions.
The transformation of Bihar’s animal husbandry sector is being driven by several key initiatives:
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Over the last three years, 33.39 lakh dairy farmers in the state have benefited from the Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme, focusing on high-yielding indigenous breeds.
- Kisan Credit Card (KCC): As of March 2025, Bihar has 2,54,408 operational KCC accounts for animal husbandry, with outstanding loans worth ?1,289.73 crore. These provide essential working capital for better feed and veterinary care.
- National Livestock Mission (NLM): Two entrepreneurship projects worth ?70 lakh have been approved to boost the production of meat, goat milk, and eggs.
The Ministry has also prioritized livestock health. In Bihar alone, 8.09 crore vaccinations have been performed against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), benefiting nearly 65 lakh farmers. Additionally, 32.75 lakh vaccinations against Brucellosis have been administered. A new component, "Pashu Aushadhi," has been introduced to ensure the availability of affordable generic veterinary medicines through Cooperative Societies.
Furthermore, the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is providing a 3% interest subvention to help diversify processing infrastructure, ensuring that Bihar’s unorganised producers can successfully transition into the organised dairy market.
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