Bolstering Livestock Resilience: Evaluating the Impact of the National Animal Disease Control Programme

The livestock sector serves as a critical pillar of the Indian rural economy, providing a vital safety net for small and marginal farmers. Recognizing the economic vulnerability posed by endemic animal diseases, the government’s National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) has emerged as a flagship intervention to secure the health of the national herd. By successfully administering over 147 crore vaccine doses, the program targets two of the most economically debilitating diseases: Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis. FMD is highly contagious and leads to significant losses in milk production and draft power, while Brucellosis not only impacts reproductive health in cattle but also poses a serious zoonotic risk to human populations. The systematic implementation of the NADCP is not merely a veterinary health initiative; it is a strategic economic policy aimed at enhancing the productivity of the dairy and meat sectors. By reducing morbidity and mortality rates, the program directly contributes to the stabilization of rural incomes and supports the broader goal of agricultural diversification.