Centre exhorts use of Ayurveda for well-being of animals

First ever two-day Animal Health Summit gets underway in New Delhi

IndiGlobal Media

Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala has stressed on greater use of Ayurveda for better health and well-being of animals. He lauded veterinarians for playing a significant role in ensuring animals stay in good health. There is a need to strengthen the cooperative movement in the livestock sector, the minister felt.

Rupala inaugurated the first ever “India Animal Health Summit “in the national capital on Wednesday. The main focus of the two-day summit is understanding the significance of animal health towards the broader objective of the country’s food and nutrition security, rural incomes and prosperity and overall economic development. Panel discussions ranging from topics such as Animal Health policy initiatives to Business environment & investment opportunities in the Animal Health sector are on the agenda.

Rupala, who was the Chief Guest, called for suggestions from the general public on the initiatives that can be taken to give due recognition to the work of veterinarians in serving the nation. Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) is one of the organisers.

Atul Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying said that the department is taking initiatives to address animal pandemic preparedness. Animal health is a very major component of One Health and the need is to ensure more respect for veterinarians in the community at large, he added.

Dr Praveen Malik, Commissioner, Animal Husbandry; Dr KML Pathak, Chairman, ICFA Working group on Animal Husbandry, Dr Umesh Sharma, President Veterinary Council of India, Dr Dieter Joseph Schillinger, DDG, International Livestock Research Institute, Dr BN Tripathi, DDG Animal Science, ICAR, Dr MJ Khan, Chairman, Indian Chamber of Food & Agriculture among others attended.