Centrally Sponsored Schemes

There are two schemes under Centrally Sponsored Schemes:

  1. Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme (LH&DC)

    • National Animal Disease Control Programme NADCP (FMDCP,CSF,PPR EP AND BCP)

    • Critical Animal Disease Control Programme (CADCP)

    • Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD)

    • Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals & Dispensaries (ESVHD)

    • Animal Health and Extension of Livestock Production (A-HELP)

  2. National Livestock Mission (NLM)

    • Livestock Insurance Scheme

Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme (LH&DCP)

  1. Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals & Dispensaries (ESVHD)

Mobile Veterinary Unit (MVU) Services – Government of Kerala

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Kerala, continues to strengthen its commitment to farmers by ensuring timely, accessible, and affordable veterinary care across the State. Under the Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme (LH&DC), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the Department is implementing the Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals & Dispensaries (ESVHD) with a strong focus on Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs).The scheme is implemented with a fund-sharing pattern of 60:40 between the Central Government and the State Government, with 60% of the funds provided by the Centre and 40% by the State.

Mobile Veterinary Units (MVU 1.0)

Kerala currently operates 29 Mobile Veterinary Units (MVU 1.0) under the LH&DC scheme. Each district has two MVUs, except Idukki district, which has three units, ensuring effective coverage across diverse and remote terrains.

Each MVU team consists of:

  • One Veterinary Surgeon

  • One Paravet

  • One Driver

These team deliver essential veterinary services directly to farmers’ doorsteps.

Current Infrastructure (FY 2025–26)

  • 29 Mobile Veterinary Units operational since 2021

  • 1 State-level Call Centre

  • Toll-Free Number: 1962 (24×7 Call Centre Connectivity)

The Mobile Veterinary Unit programme has emerged as a highly effective and farmer-centric service delivery model.

B) Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD)

Under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LH&DC), the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) component supports States in preventing, controlling, and containing economically important, emerging, and zoonotic animal diseases through systematic vaccination and disease surveillance.

Vaccination Activities

The programme includes vaccination against economically important and emerging diseases of livestock and backyard poultry, duly prioritized by the State based on disease prevalence, outbreak risk, and economic losses incurred by farmers. Special emphasis is placed on emerging diseases such as Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), which has significant impact on livestock productivity and rural livelihoods.

Due importance is also accorded to vaccination against zoonotic diseases that pose public health risks, including Anthrax, Rabies, Leptospirosis, etc. Financial assistance under ASCAD is extended to the State as per the approved proposals submitted to the Government of India.

The Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) scheme under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LH&DC) is implemented with three distinct fund-sharing patterns, depending on the nature of activities undertaken:

  1. 60:40 (Central : State)
     This sharing pattern is applicable for:

    • Livestock vaccination

    • Poultry vaccination
       The Central Government provides 60% of the funds, while the remaining 40% is contributed by the State Government.

  2. 50:50 (Central : State)
     This sharing pattern is exclusively applicable for compensation to farmers for losses due to:

    • Avian Influenza

    • African Swine Fever (ASF)

  3. 100% Central Assistance (ASCAD 100)
     This component is fully funded by the Central Government and is meant for:

    • Publicity , awareness programmes and training activities on livestock health

C) National Animal Disease Control Programme NADCP (FMDCP,CSF,PPR EP AND BCP)

(100% Centrally Sector Scheme)

NADCP programme covers vaccination activities for: FMD, Brucellosis, Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is the most economically important infectious disease affecting cloven-footed animals. Building immunity against FMD is a key pillar in sustaining productivity in the dairy sector and in safeguarding the livelihoods of lakhs of dairy farmers in Kerala. Hence, the FMD vaccination campaign is a highly critical activity that is implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry in an impeccable, scientific, and professional manner.

The livestock sector contributes significantly to the State’s economy through the sale of animals, milk, meat and meat products, hides and skins, manure, and other by-products. The prevalence of animal diseases, therefore, poses a serious threat to the growth and sustainability of this sector.

Economic Impact of Foot and Mouth Disease

Losses due to Foot and Mouth Disease are enormous and often beyond estimation. FMD results in:

  • Severe reduction in milk production

  • Restrictions on trade of livestock and livestock products

  • Infertility and reproductive problems

  • Deterioration in the quality of hides and skins

  • Loss of draught power in animals

Thus, an outbreak of FMD has a direct and severe negative impact on the livestock economy and must be treated as an economic disaster affecting the farming community.

Vaccination Strategy

Control and eradication of infectious and contagious diseases is a top priority of the State. This is achieved through mass vaccination of all susceptible livestock.
Repeated vaccination at regular intervals aims to progressively reduce disease incidence, leading to the gradual eradication of FMD from the State, improvement in domestic production, and enhancement of export potential for milk and livestock products.

Activities Covered Under the Programme

The programme includes:

  • Procurement and distribution of vaccines

  • Vaccination logistics and cold chain strengthening

  • Awareness and Information, Education & Communication (IEC) campaigns

  • Remuneration to vaccination teams

  • Strengthening of check posts for disease control

2.National Livestock Mission (NLM)

Cattle Insurance Scheme

The Cattle Insurance Scheme, a component of the Sub-Mission on Livestock Development is implemented across all districts of Kerala.

The scheme aims to manage risks and uncertainties faced by livestock farmers by providing financial compensation for the loss of animals due to death or permanent total disability, which may lead to complete loss of production or infertility.

  • Strengthening disease control measures

  • Improving the genetic quality of livestock

  • Providing a financial safety net through insurance coverage
    Implementing Agency (Department of Animal Husbandry, Kerala)