The livestock sector plays a key role in the economy and the socio economic development of the country. Its problems include diseases that cause economic losses. To face the challenge, PM Modi launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The programme is completely funded by the Central Government and has been allotted Rs 12,652 crores for a period of five years until 2024.
What is the objective?
What is the timeline?
Why do we need this programme?
The disease of foot and mouth and brucellosis are highly common among cows, buffalos, goats and sheep and have an impact on the trade of milk and affect the livestock industry. According to the government data if a cow gets infected with the foot and mouth disease, milk loss is upto 100% which can last from 4-6 months. In case of Brucellosis, the milk output decreases by 30% during the entire lifecycle of animal and causes infertility among animals. The infection of brucellosis is extremely contagious and also gets transmitted to farmers and livestock owners.
PM Modi also launched National Artificial Insemination Programme.
What is Brucellosis?
It is a zoonotic disease (any disease or infection that is naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans and vice-versa is classified as a zoonotic disease). It is also known as “undulant fever”, “Mediterranean fever” or “Malta fever”. Brucellosis is a disease of mainly cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.
The infection is transmitted to humans by animals through direct contact with infected materials like afterbirth or indirectly by ingestion of animal products and by inhalation of airborne agents. Consumption of raw milk and cheese made from raw milk (fresh cheese) is the major source of infection in man. It is also an occupational disease for people who work in the livestock sector. It affects people of all age groups and of both sexes.
What is Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)?
It is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals. The virus causes a high fever for between two and six days, followed by blisters inside the mouth and on the feet that may rupture and cause lameness.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has very severe implications for animal farming, since it is highly infectious and can be spread by infected animals comparatively easily through contact with contaminated farming equipment, vehicles, clothing, feed, and by domestic and wild predators. Its containment demands considerable efforts in vaccination, strict monitoring, trade restrictions, quarantines, and occasionally the culling (selective killing) of animals.