Srinagar
Principal Secretary Animal, Sheep and Fisheries Department, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon today said that Foot and Mouth Disease would be eradicated by 2030.
In this regard, Dr Samoon kick-started livestock vaccination drive, here. He was accompanied by Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir, Dr Purnima Mittal, Joint Director Poultry Dr Bindra, Joint Director Frozen Semen, Dr Ramesh Razdan, Technical Officer IAH&BP Zakura.
Dr Samoon said that the drive is aimed at controlling the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in 13 lakh animals in Kashmir province in next five years and also eradicating it by 2030.
“If a cow gets affected with FMD, the milk loss is up to 100 per cent which could last for four to six months, thus taking a heavy toll on the income of the farmer,” he said.
He further said that disease leaves huge impact on the trade of milk and other livestock products besides loss to the state economy.
He asked the officials of the Institute of Animal Health and Biological Products Zakura- nodal agency for implementation of the vaccination programme to gear up with men and machinery for fulfilling objectives of the programme.
The programme—which is being funded 100 per cent by central government has two components—control, the disease by 2025 and eradication by 2030.
Earlier, Dr Samoon also flagged off the drive with the Shikara rally from the banks of Dal Lake on Boulevard to Mir Behrai area in Srinagar.
