Manipur rolls out livestock insurance, 7th FMD vaccination drive
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 27 2026: The Government of Manipur's Directorate of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Services unveiled two major initiatives on Monday to safeguard farmers' livelihoods and strengthen the State's livestock sector: a new Livestock Insurance scheme under the National Livestock Mission (NLM) and the 7th round of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) mass vaccinationcampaign.

Livestock Insurance: Financial Safety Net for Farmers

The insurance programme, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on April 15 between the Department and National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL) at the Director's office in Imphal, offers comprehensive coverage against livestock deaths.

It offers comprehensive coverage against livestock deaths.

The premium is fixed at 5.25% of the animal's insured value.

Farmers will pay only 15%, with the Centre and State subsidising the remaining 85% .

The scheme covers cattle, buffalo, mithun, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, horses, and ponies.

In an official press release, Veterinary & Animal Husbandly Services Director L Arunkumar Singh said the scheme aims to provide financial protection against livestock losses, improve animal welfare, reduce risks for rural households, and encourage investment in animal husbandry to strengthen the rural economy.

For details and applications, farmers can contact National Insurance Company Ltd at Thangmeiband, DM College, Imphal, or Joint/Deputy Directors in their districts.

7th Round FMD Vaccination Begins May 1

Alongside the insurance launch, the Directorate announced the 7th round of Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccination under the National Animal Disease Control Programme.

The statewide drive will begin on May 1, 2026 .

The centrally sponsored programme targets 100% vaccination to control FMD by.

2025 and eradicate it by 2030 .

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that severely threatens cloven-hoofed animals, such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs.

It causes fever and blisters in the mouth, on the feet, and around the hooves, leading to major drops in productivity, including lower milk yield and slower growth.

The disease also imposes significant economic losses on farmers through reduced output and stringent trade restrictions.

The campaign follows Standard Operating Procedures from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, to build herd immunity and curb the virus.

L Arunkumar urged farmers to participate actively, emphasizing that collective vaccination efforts will help make Manipur FMD-free.

The back-to-back initiatives signaled Manipur's push for resilient livestock farming amid climate and disease challenges.

Comment