In a significant boost to India’s animal health and dairy sector, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) inaugurated the National Workshop on Compartmentalisation and Zoning for Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) today.
The two-day event, hosted by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), brings together policymakers, experts, and state officials to chart a clear roadmap toward achieving internationally recognised FMD-free status by 2030.
The inaugural session witnessed the launch of four transformative initiatives aimed at modernising livestock services and improving farmer outcomes. Minister Singh unveiled the Rate My Laboratory App, Dairy Vikas Portal, Vidyapeeth Portal, and the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Prevention and Control of Mastitis in Dairy Animals.
The Rate My Laboratory App enables real-time user feedback for veterinary labs, fostering transparency and quality upgrades. The Dairy Vikas Portal offers centralised monitoring of milk procurement infrastructure, while the Vidyapeeth Portal streamlines training for Artificial Insemination technicians with digital certification and MIS tracking. The Mastitis SOP provides practical, science-based guidelines to reduce this costly disease and enhance milk quality.
Highlighting the sector’s importance, Minister Singh noted that the livestock sector contributes nearly 31% to agricultural GVA and 5.5% to India’s overall GVA, supporting livelihoods of over 8 crore rural families, especially women. He emphasised sustained progress under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP): over 1.4 billion FMD vaccine doses administered, NSP positivity dropping from 16.6% in 2022 to 7.8% in 2026, and no Asia-1 serotype cases in the last three years. India now boasts an annual FMD vaccine production capacity of 1.16 billion doses.“Nine priority states will lead the decentralised creation of FMD-free zones and compartments,” the Minister announced, stressing ear-tagging, geo-tagged vaccination tracking, and robust surveillance as key pillars.
Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Odisha’s Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik, Secretary Naresh Pal Gangwar, and senior officials also addressed the gathering.
Technical sessions covered WOAH international standards, capital investment schemes, fodder security amid climate challenges like El Niño, and differential control strategies.
The workshop will conclude tomorrow with discussions on negative marker vaccines, emerging SAT serotypes, and stakeholder collaboration.
This initiative aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, promising healthier livestock, safer trade, and stronger rural economies.
