Principles and Techniques of Veterinary and AH Extension

KEY VILLAGE SCHEME

• The Key Village Scheme (KVS) was a novel attempt made by independent India towards the development of cattle and buffaloes. The basic aim was to bring about rapid improvement in the production potentiality of milch animals through improved breeding ( multiplication of superior germ plasm), effective healthcare, and scientific management and organized marketing facilities.
• It was taken up in August 1952. This was the first step initiated for systematic cattle improvement with the comprehensive programme of
• Introduction of superior bulls
• Castration of undesirable inferior bulls
• Use of artificial insemination
• Milk recording
• Improved fodder production
• Prevention and treatment of diseases
• Distribution of mineral feed supplements
• Artificial Insemination (AI) was included as an integral part of the technical programme.It envisaged establishment of Key Village Blocks in breeding tracts of bovines and each block consisted of one AI centre and four key village units to cover about 10,000 breedable cows and buffaloes. The scheme was evaluated at different phases and by 1962 it was very well realized that it failed to evince the desired impact and that too a large number of dairy plants were unable to collect sufficient quantities of milk.
• The reasons for failure include establishment of centers in the states where there were no recognized breeds, creating confusion in the personnel of Animal Husbandry Departments (AHDs) by introducing lot of modifications in the scheme,inadequate attention paid to the fodder development and in establishment of marketing cells.