7 July 2009

2 minute read

Asia

Diseases like foot and mouth disease (FMD) affects export potential of the livestock industry as a result of trade barrier that prevents export of livestock and their products to countries free from this disease.

In such an atmosphere Centre is committed to cure the livestock population of the country through high quality research and lab facility, says Union Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar while laying the foundation stone of International Centre for foot & mouth diseases in Arugul near Khurda (Orrisa) today.

Union Agriculture Minister Shri Pawar told that Indian economy is growing rapidly and contribution of agriculture to it is remarkable. However sustainability of agricultural growth is a matter of concern.

According to the minister, the livestock sub sector has positioned itself very well. "Our milk production is growing at a rate of 3.3 million tones per annum. Unless we make sincere efforts to contain and manage common diseases like foot & mouth diseases of animals we will be far away from achieving the targeted production of 160-170 million tones of milk by 2020.

"In this context, International centre for foot and mouth diseases will play a crucial role not only in country but in south Asia as well," he added. "This centre will be functional within three years at a cost of 45 crores of rupees will go for high-tech research in the field of foot and mouth disease of cattles."

Addressing the function as Chief Guest Orissa Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik said that though Animal Resources Department has taken steps to vaccinate about 45 lakhs of cattle per annum during the last 3 years to control FMD, there are some sporadic occurrences, which severely affects the production. The establishment of this institute will greatly help in characterization of FMD virus strains involved in outbrakes through advanced molecular biology and immunological techniques and the tracing of FMD infection. This institute will look forward to make Orissa as a FMD free state, CM hoped.

State Agriculture Minister Dr. Damodar Rout, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Prof. K.V. Thomas addressing the occasion told that FMD is one disease which is causing severe economic loss to the poor livestock grower. India takes a lead in facilitating competence development on FMD in the SAARC region. Accordingly ICAR approved the plan of establishing such a centre in Arugul, Orissa during eleventh plan period.

Union Agriculture & Research Secretary Dr Mangala Rai, Bhubaneswar MP Dr. Prasanna Patsani and others have spoke on this occasion. This International Centre for foot and mouth diseases will be functional in three years at a cost of 45 crores of rupees. State Government has provided 100 acres of land for this central organization.

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