Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the most economically devastating contagious viral animal diseases affecting all susceptible cloven-footed animals. As per the estimates by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), direct loss due to milk and meat is to the tune of RS. 20,000 crores per annum. It can be much more if indirect losses due to reduced work capacity; abortions, subsequent infertility and sterility (that account for the reduced milk production subsequently) are taken into account.
In order to prevent economic losses due to Foot and Mouth Disease, a location specific programme called ‘Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP)’ is under implementation since 10th Plan Period. Gradually FMD-CP was expanded during 11th & 12th Plan Period. Thus, as of now, it covers 351 Districts in 13 States and 6 UTs i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Rajasthan, Bihar, Puducherry, Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep. The scope of the programme will be extended to cover remaining States in a phased manner so as to have geographically contiguous areas to yield desired results for the creation of FMD Free Zones depending upon availability of resources. With robust implementation of FMD-CP in the States, disease occurrence has drastically been reduced particularly in FMD-CP States e.g. 879 FMD outbreaks were reported in 2012 throughout the country which have been reduced to 109 in 2015.
Looking at the economic importance of the control disease, the Department has conceived ‘FMD Mukt Bharat’ in next few years. However, 16 States and one UT are yet to be covered under intensive FMD vaccination at six monthly intervals. Therefore, it has now been decided to take up FMD vaccination in these States under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) during 2016-17.
Initially Rs. 100.00 crore has been allotted for FMD control under RKVY for these 16 States and one UT i.e. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and UT of Chandigarh. State-wise allocation has already been informed to respective State Governments and States have been requested to undertake FMD vaccination by availing the assistance under RKVY.
