Over 50 cr animals to be vaccinated at six months' interval from Sept 11, PM to launch its campaign from Mathura

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a livestock vaccination campaign on September 11 from Mathura to free India from ‘foot and mouth’ disease (FMD) and Brucellosis - common among livestock such as cows, bulls, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs - in next five years. These diseases affects milk output and import of livestock products including meat, leading India to loss of around Rs 18,000 - 20,000 crore annually.
The government under Modi 2.0 had in its first cabinet meeting on May 31 approved an ambitious scheme for controlling these diseases with a total outlay of Rs 13,343 crores. The scheme envisages vaccination to over 50 crore animals twice a year.
Sharing its details, an official from department of animal husbandry on Wednesday said the campaign would be carried out throughout the country the way India had carried polio-free campaign and eradicated it completely through consistent efforts.
“The programme has, so far, been implemented on cost sharing basis between the Central and state governments. The Centre has, however, now decided to bear its entire cost to ensure complete eradication of these diseases and better livelihood opportunities for all the livestock rearing farmers in the country,” he said.
If a cow/buffalo gets infected with FMD, the milk loss is up to 100% and this could last for four to six months. In case of Brucellosis, the milk output reduces by 30% during the entire life cycle of animal.
“Brucellosis also causes infertility amongst the animals. The infection of Brucellosis can also be transmitted to the farm workers and livestock owners. Both the diseases have a direct negative impact on the trade of milk and other livestock products,” said an official document.
In case of FMD, the scheme envisages vaccination coverage to 30 crore bovines (cows, bulls and buffaloes) and 20 crore sheep/goat and 1 crore pigs at six months’ interval along with primary vaccination in bovine calves.
In case of the Brucellosis control programme, the scheme will extend to cover 100% vaccination coverage of 3.6 crore female calves.