Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 2: Following the declaration of 10 districts of Jammu Division as free area for Lumpy Skin Disease,(LSD) the Government has lifted the ban on induction of healthy dairy animals from neighboring states.
An order to this effect was issued by Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Agriculture Production Department Atal Dulloo here.
The order states that the ban on import of dairy animals from neighboring states shall be lifted only for implementation of Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) 2022-2023/ Breed Multiplication Farm Component of CSS-RGM at first instance and the decision should be revived based on evolving situation.
The order further states that the beneficiaries of IDDS who intend to import the dairy animals from neighboring states should carry a valid certificate from qualified veterinarian serving in Animal Husbandry Department of respective State along with official seal, signature and mobile number/email ID of the Veterinarian indicating date of vaccination, specie / breed of animal , age lactation number, status (milking or pregnant) INAPH Tag number , name of previous owner along with other details including mobile number . The concerned Veterinarian has to certify that the dairy animal has not contracted the Lumpy Skin Disease infection in recent outbreak.
Besides, all the provisions related to Free Area contained under Section 8,9,10 , 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 19 of PCICDA Act 2009 should be strictly adhered to and random sero samples should be taken from 5 percent of the inducted dairy animals on daily basis for sero monitoring disease.
The order further said that all Chief Animal Husbandry officers of the districts declared as free area for the disease shall closely monitor the situation and the ban on induction of dairy animals can be again imposed as per the provisions of PCICDA Act 2009 , if new LSD cases are reported in these districts.
Meanwhile, the Kissan Board members in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Tejinder Singh Wazir which was attended by its other members Mukhdar Singh and Punjab Singh expressed their satisfaction over the decision of the Government and complimented the Atal Duloo for realising the plight of farmers of Jammu. Wazir said that dairy farmers are in great distress after the disease affected the animals as their trade has been totally hit and about 100 dairies have been closed due to disease and lifting of ban will come as a blessing to farmers.