Context

The government recently unveiled SUTRA PIC programme to research on ‘indigenous’ cows.

About:

• SUTRA PIC: It stands for Scientific Utilization Through Research Augmentation-Prime Products from Indigenous Cows.
• Funding: The initiative is led by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It is to be funded by multiple scientific ministries.
• Partners: Department of Biotechnology, CSIR, the Ministry for AYUSH, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), among others.
• Objective: The initiative aims to perform scientific research on complete characterization of milk and milk products derived from Indian indigenous cows.
  • It will implement scientific research on nutritional and therapeutic properties of curd and ghee prepared from indigenous breeds of cows by traditional methods.
  • It also aims to develop standards for traditionally processed dairy products of Indian-origin cow
• Themes:
  • Uniqueness of Indigenous Cows
  • Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Medicine and Health
  • Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Agricultural Applications
  • Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Food and Nutrition
  • Prime-products from indigenous cows-based utility items

Livestock census

• According to the 20^th livestock census, livestock population in India rises 4.6% to nearly 536 million.
  • The indigenous cattle has decreased by 8.94%.
  • The exotic/crossbred population has increased by 20.18%.
• Reasons for decline of indigenous breed: Cross-breeding with exotic breeds; being economically less viable; losing utility; reduction in herd size; large-scale mechanisation of agricultural operation.
• Implications of decline in indigenous cattle:
  • Due to continuous fall in productivity, indigenous breeds of cattle have become
  • Farmers find other animals such as buffaloes, goats and sheep more productive.
  • Unlike cows, if they become unproductive, they can be sold and slaughtered for further processing.
  • Fall in indigenous breeds can have long term health and environmental impact; because the milk of indigenous breed has higher nutritional value than that of crossbreeds.
  • There is also danger of losing these indigenous breeds.
  • This has caused disruption in cattle economy which may adversely impact farm incomes also.