The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying has introduced a financial support scheme under the National Livestock Mission (NLM), offering a 50% capital subsidy of up to ₹50 lakh for setting up donkey breeding farms. The initiative is open to individuals as well as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Farmer Cooperative Organisations (FCOs), and Section 8 companies.
To qualify under the scheme, a project must include at least 50 female donkeys and five male donkeys, and only indigenous breeds are eligible in order to preserve native livestock varieties. The subsidy can be used to develop farm infrastructure such as animal shelters, feeding facilities, and breeding management systems.
Government data shows that 3,843 projects have already been approved under the mission, with a total project cost of ₹2,672.65 crore and an approved subsidy amounting to ₹1,233.69 crore. Applicants can submit proposals through the National Livestock Mission portal or via their respective state animal husbandry departments. The remaining project cost must be arranged through bank financing, with the subsidy released in two installments—first after loan approval and the second after project completion and verification.
The scheme aims to promote rural entrepreneurship while creating additional income sources for farmers. According to the 20th Livestock Census conducted in 2019, India’s donkey population declined to around 1.23 lakh, marking a nearly 60% fall compared with 2012 levels. Officials believe structured breeding farms could help conserve indigenous donkey breeds while tapping into emerging niche markets, particularly the growing demand for donkey milk used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
