Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/099200812161811.htm
Centre to set up six more bird flu testing labs
New Delhi (PTI): As part of measures to check bird flu, the Centre will set up six more laboratories in different parts of the country to detect the avian influenza virus, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday.
While bird flu outbreak was often being reported from various parts of the country, there is only one laboratory located at Bhopal for detecting the virus in samples.
By March 2009, two testing facilities will be set up in Kolkata and Jalandhar, Pawar said in the Rajya Sabha, replying to a debate on a Bill that seeks to prevent communicable diseases in animals and birds.
The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Bill passed by the House, is aimed at providing a uniform legislation throughout the country to monitor and control infectious animal diseases.
The minister did not reveal the location details for the other four laboratories that the Centre would set up.
Pawar also said an expert group will study the viability of setting up a body on the lines of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for the animal husbandry sector. He was responding to a demand from MPs to set up such a body.
Framing legislation for control of major livestock diseases is also an international obligation for India to enable the country to take benefits under the International Animal Health Code, a crucial enabler for livestock trade.
Contagious diseases like foot and mouth disease, black quarter and anthrax, among others, continue to be a serious threat to Indian livestock with a production value estimated at Rs 2.11 lakh crore.
Earlier, during the discussion on the Bill, Narayan Singh Manaklao (BJP) sought to know how compulsory vaccination of animals is possible if "sufficient number of vaccines are not available."
Referring to stray cows and street dogs, Manaklao said in those cases where there are no owners, the government and the local authorities will have to vaccinate the animals and take care of them.
J.D. Seelam (Congress) supported the Bill saying apart from the control and prevention of contagious diseases among animals, some international obligations too have to be met.
"We earned Rs 3,000 crore last year in meat export. It is our duty to take care of the animals," he said adding, the country will have to adhere to the International Animal Health Code.
Moinul Hassan (CPI-M) said livestock is an asset of the country and it is a national duty to protect them. He referred to bird flu in West Bengal and sought a compensation mechanism and more testing centres apart from the one at Bhopal.
The MP also asked for steps to check the illegal export of livestock to Bangladesh from West Bengal and Tripura.
Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said around 2.5 crore population of the country was dependent on livestock for livelihood and demanded more allocation for animal husbandry in plan outlay.
Yadav said that the combined revenue receipt of milk and meat at Rs 1.73 lakh crore was only less than that of wheat and paddy combined and the areas needed more attention.
Centre to set up six more bird flu testing labs
New Delhi (PTI): As part of measures to check bird flu, the Centre will set up six more laboratories in different parts of the country to detect the avian influenza virus, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday.
While bird flu outbreak was often being reported from various parts of the country, there is only one laboratory located at Bhopal for detecting the virus in samples.
By March 2009, two testing facilities will be set up in Kolkata and Jalandhar, Pawar said in the Rajya Sabha, replying to a debate on a Bill that seeks to prevent communicable diseases in animals and birds.
The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Bill passed by the House, is aimed at providing a uniform legislation throughout the country to monitor and control infectious animal diseases.
The minister did not reveal the location details for the other four laboratories that the Centre would set up.
Pawar also said an expert group will study the viability of setting up a body on the lines of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for the animal husbandry sector. He was responding to a demand from MPs to set up such a body.
Framing legislation for control of major livestock diseases is also an international obligation for India to enable the country to take benefits under the International Animal Health Code, a crucial enabler for livestock trade.
Contagious diseases like foot and mouth disease, black quarter and anthrax, among others, continue to be a serious threat to Indian livestock with a production value estimated at Rs 2.11 lakh crore.
Earlier, during the discussion on the Bill, Narayan Singh Manaklao (BJP) sought to know how compulsory vaccination of animals is possible if "sufficient number of vaccines are not available."
Referring to stray cows and street dogs, Manaklao said in those cases where there are no owners, the government and the local authorities will have to vaccinate the animals and take care of them.
J.D. Seelam (Congress) supported the Bill saying apart from the control and prevention of contagious diseases among animals, some international obligations too have to be met.
"We earned Rs 3,000 crore last year in meat export. It is our duty to take care of the animals," he said adding, the country will have to adhere to the International Animal Health Code.
Moinul Hassan (CPI-M) said livestock is an asset of the country and it is a national duty to protect them. He referred to bird flu in West Bengal and sought a compensation mechanism and more testing centres apart from the one at Bhopal.
The MP also asked for steps to check the illegal export of livestock to Bangladesh from West Bengal and Tripura.
Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said around 2.5 crore population of the country was dependent on livestock for livelihood and demanded more allocation for animal husbandry in plan outlay.
Yadav said that the combined revenue receipt of milk and meat at Rs 1.73 lakh crore was only less than that of wheat and paddy combined and the areas needed more attention.