The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, recently organized a Regional Review Meeting for the Northern States and Union Territories. Chaired by Secretary Alka Upadhyaya, the event saw participation from high-ranking officials including Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Directors from the animal husbandry and dairying departments across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Senior DAHD officials such as Additional Secretary Varsha Joshi and Adviser Jagat Hazarika were also in attendance.
The agenda primarily focused on assessing the implementation and progress of key animal husbandry programs, with Secretary Upadhyaya reviewing the physical and financial aspects of several schemes. Among these were the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), the National Livestock Mission (NLM) with its Entrepreneurship Development component, the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), and the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD).
The flagship Livestock Health and Disease Control Program (LHDCP), aimed at mitigating diseases like Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), and Classical Swine Fever (CSF), was a major focus, with deliberations centered around biannual vaccinations for cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats.
Secretary Upadhyaya highlighted the urgent need for states to expedite vaccination drives, enhance reporting practices, and implement sero-surveillance to curb the spread of livestock diseases. She also urged attention to establishing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Free zones and highlighted the importance of boosting dairy sector growth through increased processing capacity and product diversification. Additionally, the Secretary encouraged efficient fund utilization for the interest subvention program under NLM and advocated for the formation of fodder cooperatives to address fodder scarcity.
The meeting further emphasized strategies for broadening organized dairy sector coverage, fostering entrepreneurship in goat, pig, and poultry farming, and optimizing infrastructure for wealth creation under the National Livestock Mission (NLM) and Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF).
Concluding on a strategic note, Secretary Upadhyaya stressed the shared responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure the success of the 21st Livestock Census, vital for future policy-making in animal husbandry, and urged the adoption of advanced technologies for seamless execution.
