Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh inaugurates National Workshop on Foot & Mouth Disease, unveils digital initiatives to modernise India’s dairy and livestock ecosystem

Key Highlights

• National Workshop on Compartmentalization and Zoning for Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) inaugurated in Bhubaneswar.
• Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh launched the Rate My Laboratory App, Dairy Vikas Portal, Vidyapeeth Portal, and the SOP for Prevention & Control of Mastitis in Dairy Animals.
• India aims to achieve FMD-free status by 2030.
• More than 1.4 billion FMD vaccine doses have been administered under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP).
• Nine states have been identified as priority regions for establishing FMD-free zones and compartments.
• Livestock contributes around 31% of Agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA) and 5.5% of India’s total GVA.

Government Accelerates Dairy Digitalisation and Animal Health Reforms with Focus on FMD-Free India

Bhubaneswar, July 8, 2026: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, has strengthened India’s roadmap towards an FMD-free livestock ecosystem by launching a series of digital initiatives and reviewing national disease control strategies during the National Workshop on Compartmentalization and Zoning for Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD).

The two-day workshop focuses on adopting internationally accepted standards for disease zoning and compartmentalisation to improve animal health, enhance livestock productivity and facilitate domestic as well as international trade in livestock and dairy products.

Four Major Digital Initiatives Launched

During the inaugural session, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh unveiled four key initiatives aimed at improving governance, quality assurance and productivity across the dairy and livestock sector.

Rate My Laboratory App

A digital feedback platform designed to improve veterinary diagnostic laboratories through real-time user feedback, enhancing transparency, accountability and service quality.

Dairy Vikas Portal

A centralised monitoring platform that tracks:

• Bulk Milk Coolers (BMCs)
• Milk Collection Centres (MCCs)
• Milk procurement
• Dairy infrastructure utilisation

The portal is expected to support data-driven planning and strengthen India’s dairy supply chain.

Vidyapeeth Portal

A digital management platform for accredited Artificial Insemination Training Institutes featuring:

• Digital trainee management
• QR-based certification
• Institute monitoring
• MIS-enabled reporting

The platform aims to improve transparency and capacity building in livestock breeding services.

Mastitis Control SOP

The Ministry also released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), along with awareness material, to promote scientific dairy management practices, improve milk quality and reduce productivity losses caused by mastitis.

India Targets FMD-Free Status by 2030

The workshop reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to eliminating Foot & Mouth Disease under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Key milestones highlighted during the event include:

• More than 1.4 billion FMD vaccine doses administered.
• NSP positivity reduced from 16.6% in 2022 to 7.8% in 2026.
• No reported Asia-1 serotype cases during the last three years.
• Annual domestic production capacity of 116 crore FMD vaccine doses.
• Nine priority states identified for establishing FMD-free zones and compartments.

Experts also discussed disease surveillance, vaccination strategies, biosecurity, climate-resilient fodder planning and preparedness for potential El Niño-related fodder shortages.

Focus on Livestock Productivity and Safe Trade

The workshop brought together officials from DAHD, State Governments, veterinary institutions and international experts to develop a roadmap for implementing compartmentalisation and zoning based on global animal health standards.

The initiative is expected to strengthen:

• Disease surveillance systems.
• Veterinary infrastructure.
• Livestock biosecurity.
• Safe movement of livestock.
• Export readiness for livestock products.
• Centre-State coordination on disease management.

Hospitality & Tourism Impact

A stronger animal health ecosystem directly benefits India’s hospitality and food service industries by improving the safety, quality and reliability of dairy and livestock products supplied to hotels, restaurants, cafés and institutional kitchens. Enhanced disease control measures and better milk quality standards help strengthen consumer confidence while supporting premium hospitality brands that increasingly prioritise traceable and high-quality food sourcing.

The digital monitoring of milk collection infrastructure through the Dairy Vikas Portal is expected to improve cold-chain efficiency and supply consistency, benefiting hotels, resorts, airlines, cruise operators and large catering businesses that depend on uninterrupted dairy supplies.

In the long term, achieving FMD-free status by 2030 could significantly enhance India’s export competitiveness in dairy and livestock products, creating new opportunities for culinary tourism, food exports and the country’s growing farm-to-fork hospitality ecosystem.