ITANAGAR, Nov 29: Agriculture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu, while stating that disease outbreaks result in significant losses to the country, stressed that the onus is on policymakers to prioritize the integrating of animal farming within the broader agricultural framework.
Wangsu, who also holds the portfolios of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, stressed this during his visit to the ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI) in Bengaluru today to gain insights into advanced innovations and practices in the animal husbandry sector.
“Unless we ensure and secure the health of our cattle and domestic animals, growth in this sector will remain a challenge. Disease outbreaks result in significant losses to the country and as policymakers we must prioritize the integrating of animal farming within the broader agricultural framework,” the Minister stated while addressing scientists and officials at NIVEDI, according to an official press note.
Pointing out the government’s commitment to cattle farming and livestock development and the importance of data-driven planning, he said: “The ongoing livestock census in Arunachal Pradesh will provide crucial data to guide our initiatives. We recognize the challenges and limitations in this sector, but we are determined to address them systematically.”
Expressing regret over the missed opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic, he reaffirmed the government’s efforts to engage youth through programs like Catch Them Young, which aims to train and empower them in cattle farming. “Our ultimate goal is to increase the cattle population in Arunachal Pradesh. However ambitious our programs may be, they will only succeed with the support and expertise of institutions like NIVEDI,” he added.
Wangsu also addressed concerns regarding the State’s delayed submission of reports to NIVEDI, assuring the institute of timely updates moving forward. “I assure that there will be a strict streamlining of disease reporting from now on and we are here to ensure there will be no lapses in Arunachal Pradesh’s collaboration with NIVEDI. We look forward to your guidance in securing the future of livestock farming in our state,” he said.
Dr B Gulati, Director ICAR-NIVEDI, stressed the importance of decentralizing disease management through mobile app interfaces that provide real-time information and diagnostic support for veterinarians, timely submission of Arunachal Pradesh’s livestock census data to NIVEDI to enhance disease monitoring, strengthening vaccination campaigns to ensure effective disease prevention, establishing of disease management laboratory and implementing a remote sensing management system in Arunachal Pradesh, strengthening of Laboratory Network and Veterinary Capacity and comprehensive epidemiological surveys and border surveillance.
The Minister-led team toured NIVEDI’s facilities, including labs and diagnostic units and engaged in discussions on how to replicate successful models in Arunachal Pradesh.
Concluding his visit, Wangsu expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, “With NIVEDI’s expertise and our renewed commitment, we can create a robust foundation for livestock health and development in Arunachal Pradesh.”