20 May 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

2. Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD)

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: DAHD, UNDP

Context:

DAHD and UNDP signed an MoU on the Digitalization of Vaccine Cold Chain Management, Capacity Building, and Communication Planning.

Details:

• This strategic partnership aims to enhance the digitalization of vaccine cold chain management, capacity building, and communication planning in India.

Background: 

• Considering the large human population and livestock population in India with 142.86 Crore people, 53.57 Crore farm animals and 85.18 Crore poultry population, catering all the veterinary services to the doorstep of farmers and ensuring the nutritional security of the large population is a challenge.

Features of the collaboration:

• With the digitalization of the entire vaccine stock management system and providing real-time information on vaccine stocks and flows, and storage temperatures, the inequities in vaccine supply will be addressed by managing constraints of infrastructure, management information systems, and human resources. 
• The vaccine cold chain management process will be monitored with the help of new-age technologies and artificial intelligence through the Animal Vaccine Intelligence Network (AVIN) developed by UNDP.
• UNDP will support the DAHD to manage and deliver vaccines across the country in the right quantity, right quality, at the right time and right temperature with supportive supervision.
• Through this MoU, technical assistance will be extended to the Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry (CEAH) to enhance its capabilities in animal husbandry practices. 
• The MoU also covers support in the planning and development of an effective and inclusive livestock insurance programme and crafting and implementation of an effective communication plan for the department which will help in ensuring better propagation and outreach of the department’s activities. 

One Health Approach:

• UNDP and DAHD will jointly work on Strengthening Animal Health with the One Health approach at the centre.
• This step will contribute to the creation of a digital future via digitalization and remote temperature monitoring of cold chains by UNDP India. 
• This will ensure that vaccines are stored at an adequate temperature in the prescribed limit of 2-8 degrees Celsius which is important to increase immunization coverage and outreach.