The Punjab government is actively discussing scientific cooperation with Brazil, renowned for its expertise in animal health, to effectively tackle livestock ailments that pose significant challenges to farmers. The partnership aims to curb disease outbreaks, prevent economic losses, and alleviate rural distress. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) emerged as a major concern in India during 2022, leading to the loss of over 200,000 cows and causing a decline in milk production. The collaboration between Punjab and Brazil encompasses a comprehensive approach to animal disease management, including monitoring disease occurrence, implementing preventive measures, and developing effective strategies for outbreak management. The potential for joint vaccine development and other veterinary medicines is also being explored. Angelo de Queiroz Mauricio, the agricultural attaché at the Brazil embassy in New Delhi, highlighted the plans for scientific cooperation with key universities in Punjab, including Punjab Agricultural University, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and Lovely Professional University. The collaboration includes joint research projects focused on monitoring animal disease occurrences, preventing outbreaks, and developing strategies to cope with potential outbreaks. Additionally, the exploration of developing Ayurvedic medicines for veterinary diseases holds promise. Mauricio emphasized the establishment of a working group to facilitate cooperation between universities and research institutes. The possibility of developing vaccines jointly was also discussed during a meeting with Lovely Professional University, particularly with its department of Ayurvedic medicines for animals. An Indian company has already initiated discussions on developing specific products, and India is in touch with Brazilian companies in this regard. The development of Ayurvedic products for veterinary treatments presents a significant opportunity, and both parties will explore this avenue further. The collaboration gains importance in light of India’s growing demand for milk and milk products. As the world’s largest producer of milk, India has a vast livestock population, and almost all the milk produced is consumed domestically. However, the per capita consumption of milk remains low at around 330 ml per person per day, as per the 2023 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey. Milk production in India stood at 230.58 million tonnes in 2022-23, with minimal growth compared to previous years due to factors like the LSD outbreak. Lovely Professional University, with its existing memorandums of understanding with 11 Brazilian universities, expressed enthusiasm for strengthening the potential for fruitful cooperation. A recent delegation from the Brazil embassy visited the university, and a productive discussion was held regarding collaborative research on livestock diseases between universities in India and Brazil. A spokesperson for the university stated that the deliberations were promising, and an upcoming meeting is scheduled in the following weeks to advance the discussions into actionable plans. Queries sent to the deans and spokespersons of Punjab Agricultural University, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, and the chief executive officer and the Secretary of Investment Promotion Punjab remained unanswered at the time of publication. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reported 200,001 cattle deaths between July 2022 and 25 July 2023, with an estimated loss of 30,000 per cattle. In response to the LSD outbreak, the government vaccinated over 115.7 million animals against LSD till July last year, as per official data. The research projects undertaken as part of the Punjab-Brazil collaboration will be jointly funded by both parties. The funding details will be finalized once the projects are defined. A joint working group will be established by the embassy of Brazil and Invest Punjab, headed by the investment promotion minister of Punjab, Anmol Gagan Maan. The first meeting of this group is scheduled for the first week of May to discuss the collaboration in detail.
Punjab and Brazil Collaborate on Livestock Disease Management and Veterinary Medicine
