Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh is scheduled to inaugurate an International Centre for Foot and Mouth Disease (ICFMD) on the Utkal Divas on April 1 (Saturday) at Arugul on outskirts of the State capital city.
Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Minister Pradeep Maharathy and Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patsani would also attend the programme.
The research centre would provide wide opportunities for veterinary practitioners to conduct research on viral diseases of cattle and buffaloes.
The research centre has been constructed in joint collaboration of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Union Government’s Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The ICFMD is a `200-crore project.
In India, the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is endemic and occurs in all parts of the country throughout the year. The record of FMD in India dates back to the year 1864 when it occurred in many parts of the country. The economic losses caused by the disease are mainly due to loss in milk production (80%) and reduction in the working ability of the animals. Besides, the milk and milk products, meat and hide are not accepted by countries free from the disease, thereby causing reduction in the export potential of livestock industry in India.
The history of FMD research in India dates back to 1929 with a transmission experiment in cattle. Effort to control the disease by vaccination was felt and initiated way back in 1943.
In order to strengthen the research activity on FMD, an integrated All India Coordinated Research Project for FMD virus typing was initiated in 1968 by the ICAR with a Central laboratory at Mukteswar and three Regional Centres located at Hissar, Hyderabad and Kolkata.