PALANPUR, October 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre (BBBRC) at Bhildi in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, a major initiative aimed at improving indigenous cattle breeds and boosting milk production.
During his two-day visit to Gujarat, Modi toured the facility and interacted with officials to learn about its operations and advanced breeding technologies. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Banas Dairy Chairman Shankar Chaudhary, who is also the Speaker of the State Assembly, accompanied him.
Spread over 127 acres, the centre has been developed at a cost of Rs 325 crore by Banas Dairy, with technical guidance from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and support under the Centre’s Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
The facility will employ advanced breeding technologies, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo transfer, to improve the genetic quality of indigenous cattle and enhance their milk productivity. It aims to produce 25,000 high-quality embryos annually.
The centre will focus on prominent indigenous cow breeds, including Kankrej, Gir, Sahiwal and Tharparkar, along with buffalo breeds such as Mehsani, Banni, Jaffrabadi and Murrah.
The initiative is expected to benefit dairy farmers by helping them achieve higher milk yields with fewer animals, particularly amid rising cattle maintenance costs and declining fodder availability.
It will also provide quality semen, embryos and breeding services to livestock farmers at affordable rates, supporting the development of the dairy sector.
During the visit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for five major development projects of Banas Dairy at Bhildi.
