TEZU, May 2: The Round-VII Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination programme under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) was successfully launched today in Lohit district at the dairy farm of Brantalum Tamai, a progressive farmer owning 50 dairy animals.
The vaccination programme, scheduled to be carried out across the state from May 2 to June 20 within a defined 50-day implementation period, will be implemented in strict adherence to the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures issued by the Govt of India under NADCP.
The programme was graced by Lohit Deputy Commissioner Kesang Ngurup Damo; Dr Navjeevan Taloh, Disease Investigation Officer, DIO (EZ); Naku Taloh, DVO Lohit; GPC, GPM, SHG members, progressive farmers and officials of the Veterinary Department.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC described the launch as an important day for livestock farmers of the district. He said that dairy farming has immense potential for strengthening the rural economy, generating employment and promoting self-reliance among farmers.
He said that hygienic and branded milk is an important part of a healthy diet and can also contribute significantly to the local economy and sustainable livelihood. He added that the future of dairy farming in India is promising and urged farmers to take advantage of government schemes and veterinary services.
Highlighting the role of schemes such as Atma Nirbhar Pashu Palan Yojana, the DC said that livestock-based activities have helped creating employment opportunities and promoting rural entrepreneurship. He encouraged livestock owners to cooperate fully with the Veterinary Department so that Lohit district can contribute meaningfully towards the national goal of eradicating FMD by 2030.
The DVO, explaining the aims and objectives of the vaccination programme, stated that the campaign is being conducted as part of a systematic national effort to control and eliminate FMD.
Dr Taloh appealed to all livestock owners, PRI members, progressive farmers and the general public to extend “full” cooperation to the vaccination teams whenever they visit villages for immunization of livestock. He urged residents to register their livestock in order to avail various facilities and benefits provided by the Government of India.
He also urged progressive farmers, PRI representatives and SHG members to actively participate in the awareness programme and mobilize livestock owners for complete vaccination coverage. He informed that the programme will cover all the villages of Lohit district.
Dr Taloh further sought support for strengthening the infrastructure of District Veterinary Hospital so that animal healthcare services in the district can be improved.
As part of the launch programme, activities such as ear-tagging of cattle, pre-vaccination serum collection, vaccination, distribution of FMD awareness leaflets and real-time data entry on the NDLM portal were taken up. The programme also focused on creating awareness among livestock farmers and encouraging them to actively cooperate with vaccination teams during household visits as per the notified schedule.
During the technical briefing, the DIO (EZ) stated that FMD is a highly contagious viral disease and one of the most economically devastating diseases affecting livestock. She stated that the disease can reduce milk production by up to 50 percent, thereby directly affecting the income of dairy farmers.
She stated that O, A and Asia-1 types of FMD virus are prevalent in India. In unvaccinated herds, morbidity can be as high as 100 percent, while mortality may range from 1 to 5 percent in adult animals and up to 20 percent in young animals.
The DIO stated that many western countries are already FMD-free, while India is still working towards complete eradication of the disease. She added that the presence of FMD affects India’s livestock product exports and causes major economic losses to farmers and the livestock sector.
She also briefed the gathering on animal identification through barcode-based ear tagging and Aadhaar-based owner registration. She informed that vaccination is provided free of cost by the Government and appealed to livestock owners to ensure that all eligible animals are vaccinated.
Highlighting the progress achieved so far, the officer stated that FMD outbreaks have reduced from 132 in 2019 to 32 in 2025, and added that the objective of the ongoing programme is to bring the number of outbreaks down to zero. (DIPRO)