Delhi: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WoAH) have prepared a roadmap for public-private partnership in the livestock sector, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said in a release on Saturday. The two entities organised the WoAH PVS-PPP (Performance of Veterinary Services-Public Private Partnership) Targeted Support Workshop in New Delhi from February 11 to 13, 2025. The workshop aimed to strengthen veterinary services through public-private partnerships (PPP) in areas such as vaccine platforms, veterinary workforce development, institutional infrastructure and creation of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) free zones. Alka Upadhyay, Secretary, DAHD, highlighted the critical role of veterinary services in supporting the livestock sector, which contributes over 30 per cent to India’s agricultural gross value added (GVA). He emphasised the need for setting up veterinary laboratories with NABL accreditation and emphasised that private sector collaboration is essential for disease surveillance, workforce capacity and vaccine production.
He said, “This workshop has set a platform for structured PPP engagement in veterinary services. The discussions will contribute to a roadmap that enhances national disease control programmes, expands veterinary infrastructure and ensures a sustainable ecosystem for animal health protection.”
Upadhyay emphasised the need to develop a structured PPP policy within a year to ensure long-term investment and private sector participation in veterinary services.
Dr. Hirofumi Kugita, Regional Representative, World Organisation for Animal Health, Asia and the Pacific, acknowledged India’s leadership in veterinary services and its potential to contribute to global best practices through knowledge-sharing and laboratory collaborations.
