Lok Sabha Question No. 4857 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-01
Subject: Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Smt. Supriya Sule

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4857 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01 ST  APRIL 2025

## LIVESTOCK HEALTH AND DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAMME

## 4857. SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:

SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the revised Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) has effectively  reduced  the  spread  of  major  livestock  diseases  such  as  Foot  and  Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  details  of  disease  outbreaks  reported  during  the  last  three  years  in  Maharashtra despite implementation of the programme;
- (c) whether  vaccination  drive  under  LHDCP  is  reaching  all  rural  and  remote  areas  of Maharashtra;
- (d) the  steps  taken  to  ensure  quality  and  availability  of  veterinary  vaccines  under  this programme;
- (e) whether there is a shortage of veterinary hospitals, dispensaries and mobile veterinary units in State of Maharashtra especially in rural areas;
- (f) the  current  veterinarian-to-livestock  ratio  in  the  country  and  whether  it  meets  the recommended standards;
- (g) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  recruit  and  train  adequate  veterinary professionals to strengthen disease control measures; and
- (h) the  steps  taken  to  ensure  timely  availability  of  medicines,  vaccines  and  diagnostic facilities under LHDCP?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING

(PROF. S P SINGH BAGHEL)

- (a) The implementation of vaccination programme under Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) has effectively reduced the spread of major livestock diseases. Cumulatively, around 112 crore Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines, 4.57 crore Brucella vaccines, 25.36 crore Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccines and 76.24 lakhs Classical Swine Fever (CSF) vaccines have been administered under LHDCP in the country. The improvement in the average post vaccination antibody titre indicate increase in immunity and the number of disease outbreaks has decreased. The

numbers of outbreaks of FMD have reduced from 132 in 2019 to 63 in 2024 (upto June 2024). Similarly, the outbreaks of brucellosis decreased from 20 in 2019 to 3 in 2024 (upto June 2024).

- (b) As  gathered  from  State,  15  outbreaks  of  FMD  were  reported  in  last  three  years  in Maharashtra i.e. 4 in 2022, 4 in 2023 and 7 in 2024.
- (c) The  vaccination  drive  under  LHDCP  is  carried  out  in  all  the  States  and  Union Territories, including rural and remote areas reaching all rural and remote areas. Around 9.21 crore FMD vaccines, 28.01 lakh Brucella vaccines, 2.27 crore PPR vaccines and 1.51 lakhs CSF vaccines have been administered in Maharashtra by 19.03.2025.
- (d) Department has prescribed Standard Operating Procedure for quality vaccine testing of FMD, Brucella, PPR and CSF vaccine. States are assisted for maintaining the requisite cold chain for vaccines.
- (e) As per the information provided by the State of Maharashtra, there are 4853 Veterinary Institutes  in  Maharashtra. Additionally,  153  Mobile  Veterinary  Units  (MVUs)  have been  deployed  from  LHDCP  &  State  scheme  to  cater  to  the  livestock  health  care requirements in the State.

(f)  and  (g)  Animal  Husbandry  is  a  State  subject,  and  the  establishment  of  veterinary facilities and recruitment of manpower falls under the purview of the respective State and Union  Territory  (UT).  The  number  of  Veterinarians  as  per  the  Indian  Veterinary Practioners' Register (31.02.2024) is 87914. The livestock population in country is around 53.7 crore as per last census (20 th Livestock Census). Therefore, the ratio of livestock-toveterinarian  comes  to  around  6108:1.  A  2023  report  of  NITI  Aayog  states  that  one veterinary doctor/ institution is required for every 5000 animals.

(h)  To  ensure  the  availability  of  medicines  is  under  the  domain  of  respective  state government.  The  steps  taken  to  ensure  timely  availability  of  vaccines  and  diagnostic facilities under LHDCP are outlined as under;

- (i) Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) provides 100% financial supports  to  States/Union  Territories  (UTs)  under  Livestock  Health  and  Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) scheme for vaccination against Foot & Mouth disease (FMD), Brucellosis, PPR and CSF along with serosurveillance and seromonitoring.
- (ii) Under Assistance to  States  for  Control  of Animal  Disease  (ASCAD)  of  LHDCP, financial assistance is provided for control of state prioritized exotic, emergent and zoonotic animal diseases with funding pattern of 60:40 between Central and State; 90:10 for hilly and North East States and 100% for UTs. Financial support is also provided to states/UTs for establishment and strengthening of laboratories, research & innovation, capacity building and training.
- (iii)Procurement and supply of the vaccines for respective State and Union Territory is done centrally for FMD, Brucellosis, PPR and CSF
- (iv) Supply  and  usage  of  vaccines  is  monitored  regularly  to  ensure  that  there  is  no shortage.

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