National workshop on FMD zoning begins in Bhubaneswar; Centre launches four new digital livestock platforms

Bhubaneswar: The Government of India has stepped up its efforts to make the country free from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by 2030 with the inauguration of a two-day National Workshop on Compartmentalization and Zoning for FMD in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), the workshop brings together policymakers, veterinary experts, State officials and industry stakeholders to develop a roadmap for creating FMD-free zones and compartments in line with international standards. The initiative is expected to strengthen India's animal health system, improve livestock disease management and boost domestic as well as export opportunities for livestock and dairy products.

The workshop was inaugurated by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), in the presence of Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Odisha's Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik, DAHD Secretary Naresh Pal Gangwar and other senior officials.

Four major digital initiatives launched

During the inaugural session, the Union Minister launched four key initiatives aimed at improving governance, veterinary services and dairy sector management.

The Rate My Laboratory App, developed under the Pandemic Fund, will allow users to provide real-time feedback on veterinary diagnostic laboratories, helping improve transparency, accountability and service quality.

The Dairy Vikas Portal has been introduced as a centralised platform to monitor milk collection infrastructure across the country, including Bulk Milk Coolers (BMCs), Milk Collection Centres (MCCs), milk procurement and infrastructure utilisation. The portal is expected to support data-driven planning and decision-making.

The Vidyapeeth Portal will digitally manage accredited Artificial Insemination Training Institutes by maintaining trainee records, institute operations, QR-based certificates and monitoring through a Management Information System (MIS).

The Ministry also released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Prevention and Control of Mastitis in Dairy Animals, aimed at improving milk quality, promoting scientific dairy management and reducing production losses caused by mastitis.

Progress towards an FMD-free India

Addressing the gathering, Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the livestock sector contributes nearly 31 percent of agriculture's Gross Value Added (GVA) and around 5.5 percent of India's overall GVA, making disease control critical for both farmers' incomes and the national economy.

He said India's FMD control programme has achieved significant progress through sustained vaccination campaigns supported by ear-tagging and geo-tagged monitoring of animals. According to the Minister, more than 1.4 billion doses of FMD vaccine have been administered under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), one of the world's largest livestock vaccination drives.

The Minister also highlighted that NSP positivity has declined from 16.6 percent in 2022 to 7.8 percent in 2026, indicating better disease control. He noted that no case of the Asia-1 serotype has been reported in the last three years and India's annual production capacity has reached 116 crore FMD vaccine doses.

To accelerate disease eradication, the Centre has identified nine States for establishing FMD-free zones and compartments through a decentralised implementation strategy.

Livestock sector's role in the rural economy

Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel said the livestock sector supports the livelihoods of more than eight crore rural families, with women playing a significant role in livestock rearing. He said the National Animal Disease Control Programme has emerged as one of the largest livestock vaccination initiatives globally and has strengthened India's animal health infrastructure.

Odisha Minister Gokulananda Mallik stressed that sustained vaccination, stronger disease surveillance, improved biosecurity and modern veterinary infrastructure will be essential for achieving internationally recognised FMD-free status.

DAHD Secretary Naresh Pal Gangwar said compartmentalization and zoning would play a crucial role in enhancing disease management while ensuring uninterrupted trade in livestock and livestock products.

Technical sessions focus on disease control and climate preparedness

The first technical session examined international standards prescribed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) for establishing FMD-free zones and compartments. Discussions also reviewed the implementation of the Support to States/UTs for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme and measures to strengthen veterinary infrastructure and disease surveillance.

Additional Secretary Varsha Joshi urged States and Union Territories to prepare for the possible impact of El Niño on fodder availability. She called for year-round fodder security through climate-resilient planning, increased silage production, district-level fodder action plans and operationalisation of Fodder Task Forces to minimise risks during deficient rainfall.

The second day of the workshop will focus on differentiated FMD control strategies for States and Union Territories, implementation roadmaps for FMD-free zones and compartments, negative marker vaccines, emerging SAT serotypes and coordinated disease control planning.

The deliberations are expected to strengthen Centre-State coordination and provide a practical roadmap for achieving India's target of becoming an internationally recognised FMD-free nation by 2030 while improving livestock productivity, farmer incomes and export opportunities.