Government unveils plan for research on ‘indigenous’ cows-SUTRA PIC
Pashudhan Praharee Network, 18/02/2020
Context-The government has recently unveiled a programme to research on ‘indigenous’ cows.
SUTRA PIC (Scientific Utilisation Through Research Augmentation-Prime Products from Indigenous Cows)
- It is to be funded by multiple scientific ministries and led by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
- It has the Department of Biotechnology, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Ministry for AYUSH among others and the Indian Council of Medical Research as partners.
- Aim is to
- Perform scientific research on complete characterisation of milk and milk products derived from Indian indigenous cows
- Scientific research on nutritional and therapeutic properties of curd and ghee prepared from indigenous breeds of cows by traditional methods
- Development of standards for traditionally processed dairy products of Indian-origin cows.
- Researchers from academic organisations as well as voluntary organisations (NGOs) active in India with proven record of accomplishment in executing S&T-based R&D projects have been invited to apply for funding.
| Five themes of SUTRA PIC
1.Uniqueness of Indigenous Cows 2.Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Medicine and Health 3.Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Agricultural Applications 4.Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Food and Nutrition 5.Prime-products from indigenous cows-based utility items |
Background
- Decline in the population of indegineous cows
- India had 190.9 million cattle and 43 registered native cattle breeds according to Journal of Animal Research.
- The exotic / crossbred population has increased by 20.18% during the period of last census while the population of indigenous cattle has decreased by 8.94% during the same duration.
Research on Panchgavya
- In 2017, SEED constituted a National Steering Committee (NSC) for ‘Scientific Validation and Research on Panchgavya (SVAROP)’.
- The Finance Minister had announced research programmes into indigenous cattle in the 2016-17 as well as in the 2019-20 Union Budget.The objective of the programmes was to develop products as well as improve the genetic quality of indigenous cattle breeds.
| JV’s Prelims Snippets |
| Panchagavya is an Ayurvedic panacea and is a mixture of five (pancha) products of the cow (gavya) milk, curd, ghee, dung and urine. Its proponents believe it can cure, or treat a wide range of ailments. |
Image Source-TH
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