AGARTALA, October 16 (TIWN): Tripura Animal Resources Development Department (ARDD) has been adjudged first amongst all the Collaborating Centers of the country on AICRP (All India Coordinated Research Project) on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) of government of India on the 25th Annual Review meeting held during 10th and 11th October, 2014 at College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati, Assam.

The review was made by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and DAHDF, Ministry of Agriculture, GoI and the Project Directorate of AICRP on FMD, Mukteshwar with the participation of all the states of the country. The activities and achievements of Tripura ARDD collaborating centre on FMD control measures, surveillance & diagnosis, seromonitoring and serosurveillence, farmers welfare and extension programmes using Tribal Sub Plan fund of the project carried out during 2013-14 and 2014-15 were presented by Dr. Dharmeswar Das, Director, ARDD and Dr. Arup De, Assistant Director, State Disease Investigation Laboratory in the review meeting. The AICRP unit, Agartala under ARDD was highly appreciated being the best performer among 23 numbers of FMD network units in the country as a result of which more fund and facilities are forthcoming to the Tripura center in the near future.

Dr. Dharmeshwar Das has visited TIWN office today and Speaking to TIWN Director Animal Resources Development Department (ARDD) Dr. Das said that, each and every animal of cattle, buffalo, pig, goat and sheep are vulnerable to FMD virus attack, these animals needs to be protected through prophylactic measures and vaccination. During the year 2013-14, massive vaccination programmes were carried out covering more than 5.54 lakhs of cattle and buffaloes in the state through regular vaccination programmes by the districts organizing camps and door step delivery of service, statewide mass vaccination programme twice in a year through more than four hundred free vaccination camps on a single day, special vaccination of animals along the international border areas to prevent ingress of the circulating FMD virus and the disease. In the process Tripura ARDD could reduce the FMD attack rate to 0.68 and 0.03 number of animals per one thousand cattle and goats, respectively, he added.

FMD is a viral disease which causes serious problems in productivity and production of animals with morbidity and mortality in cattle, buffalo, pig and goats in the country and significant economic loss to the farmers. In an estimate it has been reported that nearly Rs. 20,000 crores direct loss is incurred due to FMD in a year due to various incidences and outbreaks of the disease in the country. Tripura incurred an estimated direct loss of Rs. 19.82 lakhs in milk, meat and draught power due to FMD alone in 2013-14 with only eleven outbreaks. In Tripura eleven outbreaks of FMD occurred in the year 2013-14 of which six was in undivided West district and four in south district which were immediately controlled by adopting appropriate and timely measures. FMD control is heavily dependent on its prevention and control measure by timely vaccination and covering more and more number of animals under the programme funded by the AICRP on FMD, ICAR and ASCAD, MoA, GoI and State Government.

Picture : Certificate awarded to ARDD Tripura