Shashthi: India’s First Indigenous Bovine IVF Media Slashes Costs by 33%, Supercharging Atma nirbhar Dairy Revolution

Bhubaneswar, Odisha – In a landmark leap for India’s dairy sector, Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) have unveiled “Shashthi”—the nation’s first homegrown Bovine IVF Media Suite—ushering in an era of affordable, high-tech cattle breeding. Launched at the Monsoon Meet in Bhubaneswar by Odisha CM Shri Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, this breakthrough promises to democratize elite genetic breeding for millions of dairy farmers, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision.

Why Farmers Are Cheering

Imagine a smallholder farmer in rural Odisha, struggling with low milk yields from aging cattle. Now, with Shashthi, that farmer can affordably access IVF technology to breed high-yielding, disease-resistant cows—a privilege once reserved for large farms. Here’s how “Shashthi” rewrites the rules:

Cost Slashed by 33%: From ₹1,000 to just ₹650 per embryo, making IVF pregnancies accessible to small farmers.
Tailored for Indian Breeds: Optimized for Gir, Sahiwal, and Murrah cattle to maximize embryo survival.
No More Import Reliance: Replaces pricey foreign media with a Made-in-India alternative, saving ₹100+ crore annually.

Dignitaries Hail a Dairy Game-Changer

The launch saw a powerhouse gathering, including Union MoS Shri SP Singh Baghel, Shri George Kurian, and NDDB Chairman Dr. Meenesh Shah, who declared:

“This is a historic moment for ‘Make in India.’ With 36 IVF labs under Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Shashthi ensures our farmers aren’t held hostage by costly imports. We’re accelerating genetic progress to put savings in farmers’ pockets.”

Dr. K Anand Kumar, MD of IIL, added:

“For the first time, India produces its own IVF media. At ₹650 per embryo, we’re not just cutting costs—we’re fueling a dairy revolution.”

The Problem Shashthi Solves

India, the world’s largest milk producer, faces a crisis:

Low Productivity: Indigenous cows yield 3-5 liters/day vs. global averages of 20+ liters.
Costly Imports: Labs spent ₹1,000/embryo on foreign media with short shelf lives.
Slow Genetic Gains: Without affordable IVF, improving herds took decades.

Shashthi flips the script—by making IVF affordable, farmers can rapidly breed “super cows” that boost milk output and climate resilience.

What’s Next ?

Training Farmers & Vets: NDDB will roll out workshops to demystify IVF tech.
Scaling Nationwide: Target 500,000+ farmers via 36 Rashtriya Gokul Mission labs.
Expanding to Buffaloes: IIL plans media variants for buffalo embryo transfer.

A Farmer’s Dream, Realized

For Ramesh Patel, a dairy farmer in Gujarat, Shashthi is hope: “Earlier, IVF was a luxury. Now, I can afford to breed my Gir cows with elite genetics. This changes everything.”

All Blogs