Port Blair, Mar 09: A one day awareness programme on “Prevention and Control of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in cattle” was organised at Kamrajnagar of Calicut Grampanchayat on 09.03.2015. The programme was organised under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Foot & Mouth Disease by Animal Science Division of ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair in collaboration with Directorate of AH & VS, A & N Administration. Altogether, 31 farmers attended the awareness programme.
The programme was attended by Dr. M.S. Kundu, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIARI, Dr. K. Mohammed, Senior Veterinary officer, Garacharma Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Jai Sunder, Principal Investigator of the project and Smti. Cornelia Kullu, Ward Member of the village. In her address, Smti. Cornelia Kullu appreciated and thanked the ICAR- CIARI and DAH &VS for creating awareness programme on the FMD. She urged all the farmers to cooperate with the vaccination team of the department so that all the animals in their area could be covered under vaccination programme.
Dr. M. S. Kundu, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIARI highlighted the importance and significance of FMD control programme initialed by the Govt of India. He also spoke on the status of the FMD in the islands and urged the farmers to come forward to take active participation for control of FMD.
Dr. Jai Sunder, Principal Investigator of the project addressed on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and control measures of the disease and also highlighted the importance of the awareness programme which will curb down the prevalence of FMD in this island. He stated that with the effective vaccination programme and the routine monitoring and surveillance, the disease has been effectively controlled since the last outbreak occurred in 2005. He also requested all the farmers to cooperate for the vaccination programme for the control and eradication of the disease from this island.
Dr. K. Mohammed, Sr. Veterinary Officer, Garacharma, DAH&VS, A & N Administration gave brief overview of the FMD and the importance of vaccination programmes initiated by the Department. He informed that 17 round of vaccination have already been over and 18th round will start from 10th March 2015. He also requested the farmers for all the support and benefit from the Department for the development and progress of animal husbandry activities in the area.
