Port Blair, Aug. 1: The Animal Science Division of  Central Agricultural Research Institute in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Port Blair and Directorate of AH & VS, A & N Administration  organized one day awareness programme on “Status and Control of Foot and Mouth Disease in cattle” at Collinpur village Tushnabad Gram Panchayat on 30th July 2013.

Dr. S. Dam Roy, Director, CARI was the Chief Guest and inaugurated the day long awareness programme. In his address, he highlighted the importance of this disease in terms of direct and indirect losses to livestock and economy. He also stressed on the significance of the FMD Control programme in the islands and suggested to organize more training programmes to create awareness and sensitization among the livestock farmers for control and eradication of this disease from this island. He applauded the efforts of Gram Pradhan and other PRI members for bringing large number of dairy based farming community to this awareness programme.

Sh. Mohan Haldar, Gram Pradhan, Tushnabad Panchayat, in his address, appreciated the effort of CARI for providing overall initiatives for the development of agriculture, animal husbandry & Fisheries activity in the farmers field. Speaking on occasion, he assured that farmers are very much interested in the dairy activity and will take active participation for the joint effort for successful implementation of the FMD control programme. He also requested all the farmers to join hands together for control and eradication of this disease from A & N Islands.

Dr. A. Kundu, HoD, Animal Science Division, highlighted the status of the FMD in the islands and urged the farmers to come forward to take active participation for control of FMD.

Dr. Asim Roy, S.V.O., Port Mout, Directorate of AH&VS, A&N Administration Port Blair, highlighted the significance of vaccination programmes and informed that 14 such vaccination camps for FMD have already been completed in this Island from Directorate of AH&VS. He requested all the farmers to get the benefit of this FMD Control Programme by vaccinating all the animals from their village.

Dr. Jai Sunder, Sr. Scientist and PI of the FMD project gave report on Status and Control of Foot and Mouth Disease in cattle. He highlighted the importance of such awareness programme which will curb down any prevalence of FMD in this island.

Dr. Nagesh Ram, Programme Coordinator In charge, KVK informed that activity of Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Animal Science discipline is in collaboration with Veterinary Hospital, Port Mout,  Directorate of AH&VS, A&N Administration Port Blair for conducting health camps in Port Mout village for the betterment of livestock based farming community.

Earlier, Sh. L. Brojendra Singh, SMS, KVK welcomed the gatherings and the programme was concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Nagesh Ram, Programme Coordinator, KVK & Er. B.K. Nanda coordinated the function. Sh. Revati Mondal, Ex- Pradhan, Tushnabad Panchayat, Shri. Sanatan Ojha, Upa-Pradhan, Tushnabad Panchayat and Shri. P. Saha, Sarpanch, Tushnabad also graced the occasion.