In News
- To boost exports of value-added meat products, the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry has called on stakeholders to work towards creation of region specific animal disease free zones in the country.
About Animal disease free zones
- It means a clearly defined part of a country containing an animal subpopulation with a distinct health status with respect to a specific disease for which required surveillance, control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the purpose of international trade.
- Even in the case of a single outbreak of disease amongst poultry birds, the entire country is referred to as ‘disease affected’.
- Importance and need:
- Animals are the life support system for Indian rural economy, they provide sustenance in difficult times and a great source of nutrition particularly proteins for the rural folk.
- There is a need to work to increase animal productivity.
- India pioneered the export of meat and maintained the growth of momentum even during the COVID19 pandemic.
- India is the largest exporter of frozen and bovine meat while achieving significant growth in export of organic honey and fish produce.
- There is a need to initiate a survey with all stakeholders to prepare a road map with actionable points to make India disease free in terms of animal health.
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Other Measures
- The Ministry of Animal Husbandry is working for development of infrastructure for improving animal wellness, health and nutrition to ensure increase in productivity and quality,
- The government is currently running a massive vaccination drive for animals for eradicating Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis amongst the livestock.
- National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) : It is a flagship scheme launched in September 2019 for control of Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis by vaccinating 100% cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population for FMD and 100% bovine female calves of 4-8 months of age for brucellosis in five years (2019-20 to 2023-24).
- The Centre has allocated Rs 12,652 crore under the Central Government sponsored programme which aimed at vaccinating more than 600 million cattle in the country in an effort to mitigate the two diseases.
National Digital Livestock Mission(NDLM):
- It is a digital platform being developed jointly by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) and NDDB on the foundation of the existing Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH).
- The bedrock of NDLM will be the unique identification of all livestock, which will be the foundation for all the state and national level programmes including domestic and international trade.
- National Livestock Mission:
- It is an initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, introduced in 2014-15, with the objective of sustainable development of the livestock sector.
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM):
- It was launched in December 2014 with an outlay of Rs 2025 crore for the development and conservation of indigenous breeds through selective breeding in the breeding tract and genetic up-gradation of nondescript bovine population.
- The scheme comprises two components namely National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) and National Mission on Bovine Productivity (NMBP).
- Pashu-Aadhar:
- It is a unique ID on a digital platform for traceability for the animals.
- Gopal Ratna Award 2021:
- It is one of the highest National Awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector, with an objective to encourage all individuals and Dairy cooperative societies / Milk Producer Companies / Dairy farmers Producers Organisations working in this sector.
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Source:PIB
