Third phase of 'Goraksha' from August seven

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 6 (UNI) Kerala Food and Civil Supplies and Animal Husbandary Minister C Divakaran has said the third phase of 'Goraksha' (cow protection), an Animal Disease Control Project of the Kerala Government, will be launched from August 7.

Talking to media persons here yesterday, he said the project, a joint initiative of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the state government, was being set up with the objective of controlling animal diseases in the state. The government intends to cover the entire cattle population with the project, he added.

In the first phase, lauched on October 15, 2004, 21 lakh cattle were vaccinated and in the second phase 24 lakh cattle were brought under the scheme, a six per cent increase, he said.

Stating that the state had 34 lakh cattle, he said the government was expectng a six per cent increase in the third phase and elaborate preparations had been made to make the programme a success.

The Minister said the aim of the five year long Rs 35 crore free vaccination programme was aimed at promoting cattle-rearing and also boost milk production in the State. It also intended to control the incidence of foot and mouth disease, commonly found in cattle.

Mr Divakaran said that the serum test report of the first phase had found that the cattle achieved great immunity after the vaccination.

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