Centre Pushes for Expedited Livestock Vaccination and Disease Control

The Centre has instructed states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra to speed up livestock vaccinations and improve disease reporting. Focus is on Foot and Mouth Disease zones. Sero-surveillance enhancement and fodder cultivation were also discussed, alongside progress in AHDF-Kisan Credit Card scheme and livestock sector development.

The Centre has directed states, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Goa, and Bihar, to accelerate livestock vaccination efforts and strengthen mechanisms for disease reporting. Special emphasis is placed on forming Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Free zones.

During a recent review meeting on central schemes, Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, highlighted the importance of enhanced sero-surveillance across these states. The review focused on implementing key programs like the Livestock Health and Disease Control Program.

The Secretary urged states to complete six-monthly vaccination cycles for cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats promptly. The program focuses on diseases such as FMD, Brucellosis, PPR, and Classical Swine Fever. Addressing fodder shortages, she encouraged states to increase fodder cultivation, especially in degraded forest areas, and pushed for improvements in the AHDF-Kisan Credit Card scheme.

(With inputs from agencies.)