Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Oct 08, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Oct 08, 2004 |
||
|
|
||
|
Agri-Biz & Commodities
-
Animals & Livestock Kerala Govt programme to render cattle disease-free soon Our Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram , Oct. 7 THE Department of Animal Husbandry of the Sate Government is launching a project called "Goreksha mission" to eradicate maladies such as foot and mouth disease (FMD) that afflict the livestock animals in the State. The project, being formally launched on October 8, targets vaccination of at least 80 per cent of the cows, buffalos and goats in the State within 20 days, according to the Agriculture Minister, Ms K.R. Gowri Amma. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is providing Rs 34 crore for the project during the period 2004-08. The project is proposed to be carried on thereafter with self-generated funds. The FMD is considered the most serious of the contagious diseases among the livestock animals in the State. It causes huge losses to the farmers through the death of the animals, fall in milk production and reduced meat production. It is estimated that there were 2,383 outbreaks of FMD in Kerala in 2002, affecting 19,207 animals and leading to the death of 1,302 of them. Last year also, there were 132 outbreaks killing 92 animals. The launching of the `Goreksha mission' follows the successful implementation of a pilot project against FMD in the southern districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Kollam this year. As many as 4.5 lakh animals in these districts, accounting for 84 per cent of the susceptible number, were given vaccination under the programme. The mission targets giving vaccination against FMD to at least 80 per cent of the livestock animals in all the districts to develop herd immunity and turn the State into a "disease-free zone". Around 30 lakh animals will receive the vaccination this year during a 20-day campaign. The vaccination has to be repeated consecutively for five years. Besides mass vaccination, other measures such as animal movement control, outbreak management and creating awareness among the farmers are also components of the project. Alongside, epidemiological studies will be undertaken and disease surveillance strengthened in the State. The project also features training of technicians in disease control measures and creation of more diagnostic facilities. Though FMD is the focus of the project in the first year, control of other diseases such as Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Black Quarter and Brucellosis will be parts of the project in the coming years. Apart from vaccination of the animals within the State, entry of infected/unvaccinated animals from the neighbouring States will be strictly controlled under the project.
More Stories on : Animals & Livestock | Kerala
Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page
|
Stories in this Section |
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2004, The
Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu Business Line
|