Fund crunch hits Centre’s flagship cattle scheme

In the 2025-26 budget, the allocation was nil under the RGM scheme. In the previous year, the revised estimates show a budget allocation of Rs 268 crore. The allocated Rs 2,400 crore were over in the first three years of the scheme and achieved 80% of its target. So far, the programme has made 8.52 crore of successful artificial insemination, with a total target of over 10 crore cattle.The scheme is scheduled to be over by March 2026. The scheme has benefitted over 5 crore small and marginal farmers by increasing their milk production and income. Farmers from UP benefitted more than other states. An internal assessment of the scheme showed that AI has helped increase milk production of small and marginal farmers.Milk production contributes around 5% of the India’s GDP and employs over 8 crore farmers, especially small, marginal, and women farmers. Currently, India is the top milk producer in the world, contributing 25% to the world’s total milk output. It targets increasing milk production by one-third. “Funds crisis may hit India’s aim to achieve one-third of the global milk production by 2030,” said a Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying officer.



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