In total, 30 awards of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh will be distributed in the month of November on National Milk Day.

Farmers and gaushalas maintaining the best herd of desi cows can now get a Rs 5 lakh cash award as the Narendra Modi government is putting a premium on indigenous breeds of cattle to produce more milk.

The Centre has asked all states to send in nominations of individual farmers, gaushalas or cow shelters, and breeders’ societies by March 31, and 30 awards of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh will be given out in November on National Milk Day. The government has blamed its predecessors for not investing in programmes to develop and conserve India’s own 39 recognised cow breeds, which has resulted in 74% of desi cows remaining uncovered by artificial insemination.

A big plan is in the works to select 500 “high productive” bulls and use advanced reproduction techniques with select indigenous cows to produce “7,000 super elite cows”, which in turn will help upgrade 5 million indigenous cattle each year, Devendra Chaudhary, secretary of department of animal husbandry and fisheries, told ET.

The Centre will start sending SMS through National Informatics Centre to 1 lakh officials across India next week to spread the message. A big plan is in the works to select 500 “high productive” bulls and use advanced reproduction techniques with select indigenous cows to produce “7,000 super elite cows”, which in turn will help upgrade 5 million indigenous cattle each year, Devendra Chaudhary, secretary of department of animal husbandry and fisheries, told ET.

The Centre will start sending SMS through National Informatics Centre to 1 lakh officials across India next week to spread the message.