The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a one-day consultation with senior officials from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) to discuss ongoing and future collaborative initiatives of FAO and the Government of India.

The consultation was attended by Mr Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India and the highest representation from DAHD, Ms Alka Upadhayay, Secretary, Ms Sarita Chauhan, Joint Secretary and Dr Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner.

Mr Hagiwara highlighted FAO’s continuous technical support to the government to address key challenges, promote innovation, and ensure the well-being of the country's livestock and poultry industry. The consultation discussed the need to develop a comprehensive action plan for the FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) team's activities in India. A few critical areas included -

• Conducting an animal disease prioritization exercise
• Establishing and validating a protocol for antimicrobial use (AMU) across livestock and poultry value chain
• Expanding the reach and impact of the Indian Network for Fishery and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR) network
• Facilitating an Investment Forum dedicated to the livestock sector
• Undertaking a study to analyze the impact of animal vaccination on various parameters.

This strategic collaboration not only reaffirmed the strong partnership between FAO and DAHD but also demonstrated a shared commitment to fostering a robust and sustainable animal sector in India.