One lakh women farmers get training on managing zoonotic diseases

One-day online training to about one lakh women farmers engaged in livestock farming. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

In the wake of increasing cases of zoonotic diseases, the Union Animal Husbandry Ministry provided a one-day online training to about one lakh women farmers engaged in livestock farming on Friday, on the eve of International Women’s Day.

The Ministry said in a release on Saturday (March 8, 2025) that the virtual programme was to spread awareness of zoonotic diseases through the Common Service Centres (CSC) network. “Around 2,050 camps organised by Village level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) across 21 States and Union Territories, joined virtually,” the Ministry said.

Chaired by Union Secretary for Animal Husbandry Alka Upadhyaya, experts and veterinarians provided training and information to one lakh women farmers about various zoonotic diseases, clean milk production and the role of ethno-veterinary medicines in disease prevention.

Ms. Upadhyaya said women play a significant role in Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) and added that their collective efforts have ensured greater credit facility and expanded the customer base manifold. She asked the farmers to focus on availing benefits of the Union government’s schemes in the sector, such as schemes for goat and sheep rearing. “There is a need to focus on preventing zoonotic diseases to prevent animal human disease transmission and loss of productivity,” she said.

Additional Secretary in the Ministry Varsha Joshi said there is a need for hygienic, sustainable practices in the sector and discussed the significance of clean milk production and taking bio-security measures to prevent the transmission of diseases from animals to humans.