DoL

𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲:

National Centre for Animal Health

𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑: The National Centre for Animal Health, Department of Livestock, Royal Government of Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Royal Government of Bhutan is pleased to provide an update on the the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) vaccination program in Bhutan, which was implemented from August 19, 2023, to October 30, 2023. The vaccination drive was initiated in response to the unprecedented LSD outbreaks reported in the country, which affected over 19,000 cattle and yaks, resulting in the unfortunate loss of over 2,600 animals.

During this time frame, a dedicated and impressive effort was undertaken to ensure the vaccination of 280,581 bovines. This included 243,336 cattle, 36,460 yaks, 807 mithuns, and 248 buffaloes. This vaccination program was carried out across 205 Gewogs and 4 Thromdes throughout the country.

According to the Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Census 2022, there is a total of 293,614 bovine livestock animals in the country. Using IALC 2022 as a baseline, a vaccination coverage of 95.65% has been achieved. Since the susceptible population is expected to be higher than the IALC 2022 figure, an assessment of the final coverage will be conducted after projecting the exact bovine livestock population in the country.

Despite the committed efforts, a few migratory herds in specific Dzongkhags were not covered due to logistical challenges and inaccessibility. Nevertheless, it is the Department’s unwavering commitment to ensure that these herds are not overlooked, and they will be promptly addressed once they become accessible.

This achievement stands as a testament to the tireless work and dedication of our livestock professionals in the field and the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders, including the farmers and local leaders, involved in the LSD vaccination program. The protection of livestock in Bhutan is not only essential for the well-being of the animals but also for the overall agricultural and economic stability of our country. The success of this program represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to prevent and control animal diseases, contributing to the sustainability and prosperity of our livestock sector.

We extend our gratitude to all stakeholders, including farmers and communities, who played a vital role in making this program a success. Together, we continue to work towards a healthier and more resilient animal population in Bhutan.

Thank you all for the support and cooperation in ensuring the health and welfare of our livestock. We eagerly anticipate further initiatives in animal disease prevention and control as we strive to safeguard the well-being of our nation’s animals and the livelihoods of our farmers.

𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎-𝟑𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑: The first national livestock research coordination meeting after the institution of the National Livestock Research Centre (NLRC) in December 2021, is currently underway in Gelephu.

𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝

Livestock farming plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security, nutrition, and economic stability in Bhutan. However, the livestock sector faces numerous challenges, including disease outbreaks, climate change impacts, and the need to enhance productivity and sustainability. Further, the draft “Planning Guidelines for formulation of Long Term Perspective Plan and 13th FYP for Bhutan” specifies four clusters namely Economic, Social, Security and Governance Clusters. Under the Economic Cluster, one of the National KPIs is to increase GDP from USD 2.5 billion to USD 5 billion by 2029 and USD 10 billion by 2034. As a part of Economic Cluster, the objective of MoAL is to contribute to GDP worth BTN 50 billion by 2029 and BTN 70 billion by 2034 founded on productivity, innovation, technology, policy support and reform, exploring new drivers for economic growth and creating high-paying jobs.

In order to meet the ministerial objective, the DoL has identified seven (7) projects to fulfill the national goal of food and nutrition security and contribute to the GDP. To address these challenges, it is imperative to strengthen the livestock research system and reinvigorate the animal agriculture research to sustainably fulfill the national goal of food and nutrition security as well as economic growth in the country. Accordingly, the National Livestock Research Centre (NLRC) was formally instituted on 8th February 2023 in Bumthang. The centre was established as a part of Department of Livestock (DoL) restructuring and transformation reforms endorsed by the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) during September 2022. The centre was established with the main objective to serve as the premier organization to spearhead innovative livestock research programs at the national level for transformation of livestock sector towards sustainable utilization of livestock resources with enhanced economic value.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬

As a nascent institute, the first task of NLRC was to formulate the centre profile with the aim to rationalize the vision, mission, mandates and functions. This was followed by the review of 2nd draft National Livestock Research Strategy, Operational Modalities and Implementation Guidelines and also identify livestock research priorities during 15th – 17th June 2023 aligning to DoL’s 13th FYP and long term plans. Consequently, an urgent need is felt to organize and conduct the livestock research coordination workshop with the main objectives to:

✤ Finalize “National Livestock Research Strategy, Operational Modalities and Implementation Guidelines;
✤ Identify research issues and research priorities for livestock aligning with DoL’s 13th FYP and long term plans;
✤ Foster collaboration and networking in livestock research among researchers/scientists, policy makers, commodity centres and Dzongkhag Livestock Sectors;
✤ Create platform for sharing research findings, knowledge, innovations and new technologies in the field of livestock research;
✤ Garner fund support for livestock research and discuss on proposal for sustainable livestock research endowment fund;

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬:

★ The 3rd edition of the “National Livestock Research Strategy, Operational Modalities and Implementation Guidelines” is finalized and endorsed;
★ Research priorities identified and clear cut research directions developed for 13th FYP and long term plans for the Department;
★ Collaboration, networking and linkages established among researchers/scientists, commodity centres, policy makers and relevant stakeholders;
★ Scientific knowledge on livestock research, innovations, new technologies, etc shared and disseminated for field adoption;
★ A robust and sustainable research system instituted in the field of livestock research.

𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲: