The World Veterinary Day was observed on April 27. We know about the legendary ‘Kamadhenu’ and fight between Rishis Basishta and Viswamitra for its possession. In the days of yore, almost every household kept cows (Godhana) and considered them as harbinger of wealth. Even today, cow, the proverbial ‘Gomata’, is revered as a sacred animal.
By virtue of its immense benediction on the mankindand association with us from time immemorial, cow has become a part and parcel of an agrarian Indian society although the country is gradually inching towards mixed economy.
However, agriculture and allied sectorsstill continue to be the mainstay of rural economy evidenced by their contribution to our GDP. The agriculture sector though showing a declining trend still contributes about 27 per cent and livestock sector contributes 4.11 per cent to GDP.
Gandhiji had said many years ago that India lives in villages. How true it is today when we find that a majority of the population (70%) still live in villages depending upon agriculture and livestock as primary source of livelihood. Many households practice mixed farming and keep large and small animals.
Many of them are landless and marginal or small farmers who depend solely upon livestock. For them livestock is precious as it acts asan insurance against vagaries of nature like drought, famine and other natural calamities, besides being bread earner. Therefore, a healthy and productive herd/flock of cows, sheep and goats and poultry birds is considered as mobile bank on hoof.
It is noteworthy that India is the largest milk producer in the world with largest cattle and buffalo population and second largest goat population and sheep are comparatively less than goats. Importantly, the weaker sections of the society own a major portion of livestock population, a vast perennial natural resource. Hence they need to be nurtured and utilised skillfully for socio-economic development of the rural poor.
While these animals act as insurance for the farmers in duress, they have to be protected against common contagious and other killer diseases by which production loss or death could be minimized or prevented.
For this to happen the value of prophylactic vaccination has to be ingrained into the minds of less literate farmers in the countryside through mass aware campaigns because the value and benefit of vaccination is abysmally low amongst rural farmers, particularly in tribal pockets of Odisha.
It is seen many a time that the tribal people resort to sorcery to ward off diseases when outbreaks occur as in human cases. For instance, Rinder pest (cattle plague), an economic disease, a scourge few years back, has been stamped out by sustained and programmed Rinder pest eradication campaign.
Pointedly prevalence of Rinder pest in India affected export of animals and products of animal origin. Similarly, foot and mouth disease is another disease of importance of cloven footed animals and PPR (plague of small ruminants) affront the farmers. Rabies, a zoonotic disease, is a public health concern.
All are challenges for the veterinarians of the country. With changing of macro- economic scenario, more and more people are opting forlivestock farming as entrepreneurs because ofits potential in employment generation and demand of livestock products. In this backdrop, a healthy and productive herd/flock of domestic animals hold key to supply of food of animal origin and protein security.
This apart, the domestic animals are an important part of our ecosystem and our existence depends upon them. Therefore, they need to be protected.
Given this overview, it is necessary to provide best of healthcare to our domestic/pet animals and the beginning should be with primary vaccination. There is an old adage that prevention is better than cure. It should be the philosophy of timely prevention of diseases. A farmer or a pet owner would not mind vaccinating animals/pets once he is aware of value of vaccination.
With this strategy for human and animal health, a part of one health approach, the World Veterinary Association, formed in the year 2000, the foremost body of the veterinary fraternity, is observing the World Veterinary Day as an annual event since then on the last Saturday of April and selects a theme for public good. The theme for the year 2019 is ‘Value of Vaccination’.
By vaccination many of the communicable diseases from animals to man can also be prevented. Significantly, it may be remembered that six out of ten human diseases arise out animals because of their association with us.
For creation of general awareness about the value of vaccination amongst animal farmers and dog owners, the veterinary professionals manning veterinary healthcare facilities have to play a greater role in holding of mass campaigns, fruitful interactionswith citizens and farmers and conduct vaccination driveregularlyat village level with a farmer-friendly attitude. Seminars and felicitations of leading and good farmers could form a part of a yearlong programme.
The Government as the main service provider in the domain of animal healthcare should ensure active participation by the line departments and evolve strategies for vaccination of all livestock and poultry against common contagious diseases frequenting the State.
While organising farmer-friendly programmes to improve the quality of life of farmers, the core issue of economic development should be the responsibility of the civil society.
(Dr Mohanty is a Member, Odisha Livestock Development Society, and Dashsharma is a social activist)
