Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rajesh Sharma today flagged off the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccination Van under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, from the DC Office Complex here.
The district-wide vaccination campaign, being conducted under the eighth phase of the nationwide programme, will run from July 2 to August 15 to protect livestock from Foot and Mouth Disease and contribute to the national goal of making India FMD-free by 2030.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC said Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral disease that commonly affects livestock during the rainy season, causing substantial economic losses to dairy farmers through reduced milk production, poor growth and decline in animal productivity.
He said the vaccination drive is a significant preventive measure to contain the spread of the disease and safeguard livestock health and informed that nearly 2.05 lakh eligible animals across Kathua district will be vaccinated free of cost during the campaign.
The Deputy Commissioner appealed to livestock owners to extend full cooperation to the Animal Husbandry Department by presenting all eligible animals above six months of age for vaccination, saying active participation of farmers is essential to achieve the target of an FMD-free India by 2030.
Chief Animal Husbandry Officer (CAHO) Dr Yugal Kishore Gupta said the FMD vaccine is administered twice a year at an interval of six months under NADCP to provide sustained immunity against the disease. He urged livestock farmers to ensure timely vaccination of their animals and report suspected cases immediately to the nearest veterinary institution, adding that the campaign is being conducted free of cost across the district through dedicated field teams and mobile vaccination units.
Among others, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kathua Mahima Madan and Assistant Commissioner Revenue Vishav Partap Singh along with officers and officials of the Animal Husbandry Department were present on the occasion.