Govindas for measures to protect animals, birds from diseases
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 28 2014 : Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Minister, Govindas Konthoujam Friday underscored the need for taking up measures to protect animals and birds from contagious diseases, saying the demand for meat has increased in the State.

Minister Govindas was speaking at the inaugural function of the XXII Annual Review Meeting 2013-14 of All India Coordinated Research Project on Animal Disease Monitoring & Surveillance (ADMAS) hosted by Directorate of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Services at Classic Hotel here.

The Minister, who was the chief guest of the function, said a bulk of the State's population particularly the young people have become self-employed taking up poultry farming.

Govindas, who is also in charge of Commerce and Industries, said that poultry products like meat, egg and milk are in great demand in Manipur, and that poultry farming and animal rearing can be successful business taking into account the volume of their demands.

Timely intervention by the Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Department will certainly help in detecting and preventing infectious diseases that often attack animal and birds, the Minister said, while stressing that an ADMAS centre will do better in this area.

Manipur also needs an ADMAS centre; Govindas said and informed that the State Government has proposed the same to the authority concerned.

Presiding over the meeting, Assistant Director General (AH), ICAR Dr Gaya Prasad noted that animal diseases have caused a huge loss to the economy of India.

He said that every year large number of animals died in India due to various diseases which affects the economy of the country to a great extent.

So, it is high time the government of India challenge these animal diseases with new technologies.

Even if rearing of animals has been helping the unemployment problem in the society, when the diseases affect the animals, the people who keep the animals experience immense hardship, he further noted.

Dr SN Puri, Vice-Chancellor of CAU, Iroisemba; Dr S Joykumar, retired Director of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Services, Manipur and L Lakher, Commissioner of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry were also present during the function as guests of honour.

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