Why FMD and Brucellosis
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) causes about ₹20,000 crore annual economic loss to Indian dairy and meat producers through milk-yield drop, weight loss, and trade restriction. Brucellosis causes abortion in dairy cattle, chronic infertility, and is a zoonotic risk to humans. NADCP, launched September 2019, is the largest mass-vaccination programme in the world covering both diseases with 100 % central funding.
Coverage
- FMD: 6-monthly vaccination of cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs — 500+ million animals per round.
- Brucellosis: Annual vaccination of female bovine calves (4-8 months) — about 36 million calves.
- 44.57 cr FMD doses and 1.6 cr Brucella doses administered in 2024 alone.
Goal
Control FMD by 2025, eradicate by 2030 in alignment with the OIE Progressive Control Pathway. India achieved Stage 2 of PCP-FMD for several zones by 2024.
How farmers access — step by step
- State Animal Husbandry Department announces the vaccination round schedule by district and block; village-wise dates are notified to the Gram Panchayat and the Veterinary Officer.
- On the notified date, the farmer brings cattle/ buffalo/sheep/goats/pigs to the vaccination camp; no fee, no application form.
- Animal Aadhaar (12-digit polyurethane ear tag) is applied if not already present; the animal-farmer link is recorded on the PashuDhan PrahariApp.
- FMD vaccination administered intramuscularly; farmer receives a vaccination card or SMS with animal ID and next due date.
- For brucellosis, female bovine calves aged 4 — 8 months are vaccinated subcutaneously with S19/RB51 vaccine; the vaccinator records the calf's ear tag on the camp register.
- Farmer monitors the animal for normal post-vaccine response (mild appetite drop for 24 — 48 hours); reports adverse reactions to the Veterinary Officer.
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- February 2024: 44.57 crore FMD doses + 1.6 crore Brucella doses administered in 2024 round; India advanced to Stage 2 of OIE Progressive Control Pathway for FMD in select zones.
- August 2024: Animal Aadhaar tagging via PashuDhan PrahariApp scaled — over 30 crore livestock tagged; integration with NADCP round records improved.
- December 2024: New vaccine-storage cold-chain investments approved under Component A of AHIDF; vaccine wastage targeted to drop below 5 % per round.
- March 2025: Cabinet reaffirmed the FMD eradication target of 2030; Brucellosis control tightened with mandatory female-calf vaccination verification on PashuDhan Prahari.
- 2025-26: Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) expansion under the parallel Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme; NADCP rounds integrated with door-step vet service.
Common reasons animals miss vaccination
- Camp date missed: farmer not aware of camp schedule; remedy by checking with Gram Panchayat Sarpanch or Krishi Sakhi.
- Animal sick at camp time: pregnant in advanced stage, very young calf, or already-ill animals are deferred to the next round.
- Tag missing: untagged animals can still be vaccinated, but the record fails to link to the farmer's PashuDhan Prahari profile.
- Vaccine wastage at camp: late arrival after vaccine doses depleted requires next- day rescheduling.
- Cold-chain break: vaccine that has lost cold-chain in transit may be discarded mid-camp — round is rescheduled.
- Calf age outside window: brucella vaccination is restricted to 4 — 8 month female bovine calves; out-of-window calves are deferred to next year's round.
Grievance pathway: Block Veterinary Officer → District Animal Husbandry Officer → State Animal Husbandry Department Director → DAHD NADCP Mission Directorate. PashuDhan PrahariApp has a grievance tab tied to CPGRAMS.
Coverage and outlay statistics
Per DAHD data tabled in Parliament during the 2024 Winter Session, NADCP administered 44.57 crore FMD doses + 1.6 crore Brucella doses in 2024 — the largest single-disease mass vaccination programme in the world. Cumulative outlay since 2019 launch exceeds ₹13,000 crore (100 % central). State-wise, the largest rounds happen in UP, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, reflecting livestock density. India achieved Stage 2 of OIE's Progressive Control Pathway for FMD in multiple zones by 2024 — a major step toward the 2030 eradication target.
How NADCP stacks with other schemes
NADCP is the disease-prevention layer. Rashtriya Gokul Mission builds the genetic-merit base that NADCP protects; NPDD provides the cooperative milk infrastructure that relies on disease-free animals; AHIDF finances vaccine cold-chain investments under Component A. The Mobile Veterinary Unit programme and 1962 Animal Helpline are operational layers that deliver NADCP between rounds. KCC-AH at MISS rate finances disease-recovery costs.