1.4 billion FMD vaccine doses given so far under India’s livestock disease control drive

More than 1.4 billion Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine doses have been administered across India, Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh said at a national workshop in Bhubaneswar on 8 July 2026, describing it as one of the world’s largest animal disease control programmes. The two-day National Workshop on Compartmentalization and Zoning for FMD, organized by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), is working toward the government’s target of FMD-free status by 2030.

The Minister said NSP positivity has fallen from 16.6% in 2022 to 7.8% in 2026, no Asia-1 serotype case has been reported in the last three years, and India’s vaccine production capacity now stands at 116 crore doses annually. Nine states have been identified as priority states for setting up FMD-free zones and compartments through a decentralized approach.

The workshop opened with a ceremonial lamp-lighting by Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, joined by Minister of State Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, Odisha Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Minister Shri Gokulananda Mallik, DAHD Secretary Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar, Additional Secretary Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary Shri Rama Shankar Sinha and Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Naveena B. Maheswarappa.

During the session, the Minister also launched the Rate My Laboratory App for veterinary labs, the Dairy Vikas Portal for milk collection infrastructure data, and the Vidyapeeth Portal for Artificial Insemination Training Institutes, and released a Standard Operating Procedure on mastitis prevention and control in dairy animals.

Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel noted that the livestock sector contributes 31% of Agricultural GVA and 5.5% of national GVA, supporting over 8 crore rural families. Odisha minister Shri Gokulananda Mallik called for sustained vaccination and stronger veterinary infrastructure, while DAHD Secretary Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar spoke on strengthening FMD control through compartmentalization and zoning.

Technical discussions covered WOAH standards for FMD-free zones and a review of the SASCI capital investment scheme, with Additional Secretary Ms. Varsha Joshi urging states to prepare for El Niño’s impact on fodder supply through Fodder Task Forces and contingency plans. The workshop continues 9 July 2026 with sessions on differential FMD strategies, negative marker vaccines and SAT serotype threats.