North East gets its first Livestock IVF Lab as India scales up animal health, productivity, and processing

Signaling a new phase in India’s agri-allied transformation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for livestock and dairy projects worth Rs 1,166 crore, underscoring the government’s push to make animal husbandry and dairy a core pillar of rural economic growth. The announcements—made at a national event in New Delhi—coincided with the launch of two key flagship schemes: the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, designed to expand the nation’s self-reliance from grains to milk, meat, and beyond.

“The PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is focusing equally on livestock,” said Prime Minister Modi. “Over 125 crore free vaccinations have already been administered to protect animals from Foot and Mouth Disease and other infections. Healthy animals mean reduced worries for farmers.” The Prime Minister announced that local-level animal health campaigns will soon roll out nationwide under PM-DDKY to curb disease, enhance productivity, and cut losses for smallholders—aligning animal health with India’s broader agricultural resilience strategy.

A key 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 at an investment of Rs 28.93 crore. The facility will spearhead genetic improvement and dairy development across the northeastern states, a region with vast untapped potential in indigenous breeds and milk productivity. “This lab is more than a regional milestone—it marks India’s entry into precision breeding and biotechnology-led dairy expansion,” said a senior official from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).

Under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), several large-scale infrastructure projects were launched to enhance processing and value chain efficiency. These include the Rs 460 crore Mehsana Milk Union project, which features a 120 metric tonne-per-day milk powder plant and a 3.5 lakh litre-per-day UHT facility, along with similar plants inaugurated in Indore, Bhilwara, and Karimnagar, Telangana.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone 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, further strengthening India’s dairy processing backbone. Complementing these, 10 new projects worth Rs 303.81 crore were inaugurated under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) to expand the country’s capacity for feed manufacturing, milk processing, and value-added animal products.

In a parallel development, over 2,000 newly trained MAITRIs (Multipurpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India) from Uttar Pradesh received certification under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. Nationwide, more than 38,000 MAITRIs have now been deployed to deliver last-mile breeding services, ensuring that genetic gains and improved livestock care reach even the smallest and most remote farms.

The Rs 1,166 crore suite of projects reflects a strategic shift in India’s agricultural policy—from input subsidies to integrated productivity systems that combine technology, animal health, and infrastructure. The initiatives are expected to enhance milk yields, breed quality, disease resistance, and income security, while strengthening value chains from farm to market. By embedding biotechnology, skill development, and decentralized animal health systems, India’s livestock and dairy blueprint now positions the sector as a key driver of rural diversification, nutritional security, and export competitiveness in the decade ahead.