Government Launches Pashu Aushadhi Stores for Livestock Health

Why in the News?

The Indian government has announced the Pashu Aushadhi initiative under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Program (LHDCP) to provide affordable generic veterinary medicines for livestock. These stores will help farmers reduce expenses and improve animal health.

Government Launches Pashu Aushadhi Stores for Livestock Health

Introduction to Pashu Aushadhi:

  • The government will launch Pashu Aushadhi stores nationwide to provide affordable generic veterinary medicines for livestock.
  • This initiative is part of the revised Livestock Health and Disease Control Program (LHDCP), approved by the Union Cabinet under PM Narendra Modi.
  • The program has an outlay of ₹3,880 crore for 2024-26, with ₹75 crore allocated for veterinary medicines under the Pashu Aushadhi
  • It is modeled after the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras, which offer low-cost generic medicines.

Importance of the Initiative

  • As per the 20th Livestock Census (2019), India’s livestock population is 78 million, including 302.79 million bovines.
  • Diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, PPR, CSF, and Lumpy Skin Disease impact livestock productivity.
  • Farmers spend a significant portion of their income on medicines for their animals.
  • The initiative aims to reduce disease-related losses and lower farmers’ expenses on animal healthcare.

Implementation and Operation

  • Cooperative societies and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras will run these stores.
  • The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying will issue operational guidelines.
  • Stores will also sell ethnoveterinary medicines, based on traditional knowledge, for ailments like mastitis, FMD lesions, fever, and worms.