Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) in Mathura on Wednesday, to eradicate the foot and mouth disease and brucellosis in livestock. The launch of the programme is expected to herald the nation into a mission mode to save and nurture livestock, Indian farmers' most valuable source of additional income.

After reaching the inauguration venue, PM Modi expressed a keen interest in the issue and struck a conversation with the veterinary doctors who were present there to examine the animals that were to be taken for surgery thereafter.

Effort to control and eradicate FMD

The project is set for the next five years until 2024 will cost ₹12,652 crores and will be funded entirely by the government. It aims at vaccinating over 500 million livestock including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs against FMD. According to the official Twitter account of PMO India, the programme has two parts to it and has carefully been divided into a period to control as well as eradicate diseases by 2025 and 2030 respectively.

Apart from its political significance, Mathura is also a holy city and many farmers in the region have traditionally been dependent on livestock.

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More programme launches to follow

However, this is not the only programme that the Prime Minister will launch today. PM Modi is also set to flag off the National Artificial Insemination Programme. Additionally, according to the PMO India’s official Twitter account, it is also expected that the nation sees today, the simultaneous launch of the nationwide workshops in KrishiVigyanKendras in all the 687 Districts of the country on the topic of vaccination, disease management, artificial insemination and productivity.

While in Mathura, PM Modi will also take an active part in the Swachhta Hi Seva programme which happens to be a part of the larger, pan India level, Swachh Bharat movement and was launched last year as a cleanliness and awareness drive, aimed at encouraging participation in the Swachh Bharat Movement.

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