Nearly 200 farmers engaged in agricultural activities and dairy farming across Kalaburagi district gathered at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra here on Wednesday to watch the live telecast of the launch of the National Disease Control Programme (NADCP) for eradication foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis and the National Artificial Insemination Programme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mr. Modi, in his inaugural address, said that the NADCP for the control of foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis has been estimated to cost ₹ 13,000 crore.
It is meant to benefit 51 crore livestock, including cows, bulls, goats and pigs.
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The Krishi Vigyan Kendras in all the 687 districts across the country will conduct workshops about vaccination, disease management, artificial insemination and productivity under the National Artificial Insemination Programme, he added.
Amrutappa Aurad, a farmer in Kalaburagi taluk, said that medicine would ensure alleviating the immediate suffering of livestock and help farmers avoid losing their animals.
Vaccination and disease management would help protect livestock of farmers. “Besides encouraging more vaccination and preventative treatments, we must be vigilant against new and emerging diseases,” he said.
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Amrutappa Aurad added that diseases are in a state of constant change and innovative medicine is required to counter the new threat to animal well-being.
As a precautionary measure, the Kalaburagi Krishi Vigyan Kendra along with the Department of Animal Husbandry will conduct a vaccination drive and awareness campaign in all the villages in the district.
A six-month-long campaign programme will be held in 100 clusters of villages for implementing the National Artificial Insemination Programme by using artificial insemination with sperm of select bulls with well-chosen genetic traits to improve milk production.
Kalaburagi MP Umesh Jadhav, MLA Dattatraya Patil, Deputy Commissioner B. Sharat and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P. Raja were present.