Director Animal Husbandry Department Jammu, Dr. Shubhra Sharma on Friday launched the third phase of National Animal Diseases Control Programme (NADCP) for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) today here at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry Complex, Talab Tillo Jammu through online mode.The programme aims to control FMD disease in cattle and buffaloes by 2025 and complete eradication by 2030.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director conveyed that NADCP for Foot and Mouth Disease envisages 100% vaccination of cattle and buffaloes along with the ear tagging and registration of vaccinated animals on Bharat Pashudhan-National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM) portal in order to enhance the traceability, monitoring and control of the disease.
She further stated that the FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs which leads to reduction in milk yield, decreased growth rate, infertility and reduced working capacity in bullocks and control of this disease can certainly be achieved by mass vaccinations of susceptible livestock populations repeatedly at regular intervals.
Director stated that the entire vaccination campaign shall last 45 days commencing from today and shall cover around 17 lakh cattle and buffalo population. She further instructed the field officers and other staff to go for Lumpy Skin Disease vaccinations also wherever required so that livestock is safeguarded against dreaded diseases well in time and urged the staff to commit themselves fully for the important exercise while following all the required SOPs in letter and spirit especially maintenance of cold chain throughout.
The events marking the launch of this vaccination programme were held across all the districts of Jammu division.The event among others was attended by CEO, Livestock Development Board Jammu, Dr Raman Kumar Gupta and officers from the Directorate complex. Whereas, the Chief Animal Husbandry officers participated via online mode from their respective districts.