Farmers are wrestling with a rare double whammy: a lethal condition called lumpy skin disease in their cows & a drawdown in market-ready cattle stock after Covid slowed breeding.
Speaking at International Science Festival in Bhopal, Krishna Ella said iNCOVACC will be launched by 26 Jan and a vaccine for lumpy skin disease, too, will be launched next month.
Free movement of unproductive cattle prone to infections has proven to be a severe challenge in restricting the viral disease and contributed most to mortality load, say experts.
There have been outbreaks of lumpy skin disease in India before, but none as widespread or as deadly as this year's. Experts say it’s the result of a perfect storm.
Control room set up in govt-run veterinary hospital fields calls from gram panchayats about suspected cases and requests for treatment, while rapid response team works on ground.
Anand, home to Amul, India’s largest dairy cooperative, reported 1,507 cases since April 1 cases. Amul officials say farmers there have been taught how to take care of their cattle.
R.S. Sodhi says while infection may lessen milk production by cattle, impact lasts only a few days. Initial impact of outbreak offset by monsoon, he tells ThePrint in an interview.
Lumpi-ProVac, a vaccine developed by 2 Indian Council of Agricultural Research institutes, was found effective in preventing lumpy skin disease in cattle & is ready for commercial launch.
Central govt plans to commercialise vaccine — developed by 2 Indian Council of Agricultural Research institutes — to control disease that has spread to states like Gujarat, Rajasthan & Punjab.
Bihar is blessed with a land more fertile for revolutions than any in India. Why has it fallen so far behind then? Constant obsession with politics is at the root of its destruction.
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