New Delhi, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to digitalize the supply chain of livestock vaccines to monitor the cold chain management process.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims to use technology such as artificial intelligence to monitor vaccine storage temperatures and stocks in real time across India's large network of livestock farms, an official statement said.
“With digitalization of the entire vaccine stock management system, inequities in vaccine supply will be addressed,” said Alka Upadhyay, secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).
He said that the vaccine cold chain management process will be monitored with the help of new-age technology and artificial intelligence through the Animal Vaccine Intelligence Network (AVIN) developed by UNDP.
Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP local representative in India, said the move will strengthen animal health and reduce risks at the human-animal-environment interface, with livestock becoming increasingly vulnerable to frequent zoonotic disease outbreaks and climate change.
The livestock population in India is about 140 crore and DAHD aims to vaccinate about 70 crore animals against foot-and-mouth disease this year, which will cost about Rs 900 crore.
DAHD Joint Secretary Sarita Chauhan said real-time monitoring of the country's vast cold chain network will help manage and distribute quality vaccines at the right temperatures across the country.
Apart from cold chain digitalization, the MoU includes technical assistance on livestock husbandry practices, insurance scheme and communication strategies for DAHD's outreach programmes.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) aims to use technology such as artificial intelligence to monitor vaccine storage temperatures and stocks in real time across India's large network of livestock farms, an official statement said.
“With digitalization of the entire vaccine stock management system, inequities in vaccine supply will be addressed,” said Alka Upadhyay, secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).
He said that the vaccine cold chain management process will be monitored with the help of new-age technology and artificial intelligence through the Animal Vaccine Intelligence Network (AVIN) developed by UNDP.
Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP local representative in India, said the move will strengthen animal health and reduce risks at the human-animal-environment interface, with livestock becoming increasingly vulnerable to frequent zoonotic disease outbreaks and climate change.
The livestock population in India is about 140 crore and DAHD aims to vaccinate about 70 crore animals against foot-and-mouth disease this year, which will cost about Rs 900 crore.
DAHD Joint Secretary Sarita Chauhan said real-time monitoring of the country's vast cold chain network will help manage and distribute quality vaccines at the right temperatures across the country.
Apart from cold chain digitalization, the MoU includes technical assistance on livestock husbandry practices, insurance scheme and communication strategies for DAHD's outreach programmes.
