In India, livestock contributes over 4% to the country’s total GDP. As per estimates of the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the value of output from livestock and fisheries is estimated to be close to Rs 5 lakh crore. India has the privilege of having the largest population of livestock in the world. Our milk production is highest in the world. And yet, the sector has been neglected for years. Despite the ample resources available with the Centre, little has been done to improve the life of a marginal farmer, or help supplement a dairy farmer’s income. After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it appears that the newly-formed NDA government realised that the concept of doubling farmers income will not be realised if this sector is not looked after. Consequently, a huge step has been taken towards the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and brucellosis. It is actually the presence of FMD in India that has stopped us from realising the true potential of this sector. Trade barriers are put using this as an excuse, while totally putting aside the fact the OIE (The World Organisation for Animal Health) has endorsed our FMD vaccination programme. In India, 75% of the poor control the country’s livestock, which in turn becomes a major source of their income. The direct losses to a farmer due to these diseases comes from a loss in milk production and reduction in the working ability of the animals.The bigger economic losses, however, are the non-acceptance of our milk and milk products, meat and its products in certain parts of the world, making the value realisation of our agri exports not at par with countries like Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and so on. Hence, it’s important that we as a nation give top priority for the control, prevention and eradication of this disease. The initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first cabinet meeting of sanctioning Rs 13,500 crore towards the eradication of this disease in the next five years is commendable and praise worthy. For years, this problem has kept our dairy and meat products on the back foot in the global markets. Earlier, there was a shortage of funds, but now with abundant funds, the second stage which is extremely crucial is the implementation on the ground. Without this, it will be like many other schemes where funds are there but results are negligible – or in some cases, disappointing.While Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have reported no outbreak of FMD in the last few years, states like UP, Maharashtra and Punjab need extra focus as major trade emanates from there. In the past, India has successfully eradicated Rinderpest. We must learn from this and have an exclusive set-up on the same lines to ensure, monitor and set timelines. We have experts in the country who have vast experience of FMD control, whom the government should engage for initiating an effective beginning. Establishing of adequate check posts to monitor animal movement, and identification of animals will be important and will have tremendous benefits. Farm holdings also need to be registered and monitored.Keeping in mind the size and scale of our country, the low hanging fruit would be to establish disease-free zones in some prospective economic zones like Andhra-Telangana, Maharashtra-Punjab, Gujarat-MP-Delhi, Haryana and UP. The advantages of setting up of these zones will be near elimination of losses on account of FMD morbidity and mortality of livestock, increase in superior quality milk production, skill development of farmers through awareness and competence building programmes, increased contribution to national economy from dairy, meat sectors, more market access options, better and higher utilisation of existing infrastructure. The unique strength of India’s livestock market economy need to be achieved positively and effectively by reaching FMD-free status. We already do not import any FMD-susceptible animals from countries that could pose possible risk. The only risk from outside the country is the illegal movement of pigs from Myanmar to Northeastern region, but with effective check posts, this can be controlled easily . In this whole exercise, it will be extremely critical to keep a check on the quality of vaccine as the requirement will be in hundreds of millions per annum. It has to meet Indian Pharmacopeia and OIE standards, and it will be important to have an expert committee to monitor, visit and track the manufacturing facilities of the same. A tentative schedule needs to be planned and implemented by different states and the supply of the vaccines have to be on time with no scope of shortage or over-supply, which will lead to wastage. It would also be appropriate to induct final year BVSc students into vaccination teams under supervision, as this will give them experience as well as monetary help towards an internship. They can also play a major part in record keeping as well. Eradication of FMD will be a giant step towards doubling of farmers income, better value realisation of dairy and meat and effective utilisation of the privilege of having the largest livestock population in the world.It will all depend on how well we use these funds, and how much of established timelines we follow or else this will be another scheme which came and went. Fauzan Alavi is Vice President of the All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association.
