Key Highlights
- The Gujarat government began a statewide Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination programme on 1 March, slated to run through 15 April.
- All ruminants—cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats—are being injected and monitored by mobile veterinary teams.
- The drive operates under the central National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), which seeks to eradicate major livestock diseases across India.
- Electronic ear‑tag identifiers and the INAPH portal enable real‑time tracking of vaccination coverage and animal health records.
Detailed Insights
Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral affliction that targets cloven‑hoofed species. Clinical manifestations include high fever, vesicular lesions in the mouth, excessive drooling, and a marked loss of appetite. The disease’s economic toll is pronounced, chiefly through a sharp reduction in milk yield, jeopardising the livelihoods of dairy producers.
In Gujarat, a coordinated network of veterinary officers and extension workers conducts door‑to‑door outreach, visiting villages and dairy farms to administer doses and observe post‑vaccination reactions. By employing ear‑tagging, each animal receives a unique digital identity that is uploaded to the Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) platform. This system furnishes administrators with dashboards that display coverage percentages, identify gaps, and support rapid response to any outbreak signals.
The NADCP, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, orchestrates similar campaigns in other states, aiming for the eventual eradication of FMD and Brucellosis. The Gujarat effort exemplifies the programme’s integrated approach: mass immunisation, digital surveillance, and farmer education.
Key Concepts
- Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease (FMD): A viral disease causing fever, mouth ulcers, and reduced productivity in cloven‑hoofed livestock.
- National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP): Central government scheme designed to eliminate major livestock diseases through vaccination and monitoring.
- INAPH Portal: An online repository that records animal identifiers, vaccination status, and health metrics for real‑time oversight.
- Ear Tagging: A method of permanently marking cattle and other ruminants with a coded identifier for traceability.