Veterinary Information to Strengthen the Livestock and Dairy Sector in India:

1. Veterinary Information to Strengthen the Livestock and Dairy Sector in India: An International Consultation Robert Taylor ICAHIS Boston May 2013

2. Veterinary Information to Strengthen the Livestock and Dairy Sector in India: An International Consultation. November 2011 • India veterinary situation • The purpose of the consultation • Why CABI was involved • Recommendations • Next steps

3. India • Population of 1,241,491,960 • Most populous by 2030 • Pop. peak at 1.7 billion by 2070 • 641,169 villages (about 70% of population live in these villages) • 43.5% of children under-weight • Largest cattle population (210,384,000) • Largest buffalo pop. (102,006,909) • 2ndlargest goat pop. (134,636,363) • 3rdlargest sheep pop. (66,541,000) • In the top ten countries for duck, chicken and camel populations • India

4. India • World’s largest producer of milk • 2ndlargest for freshwater fish • 4thlargest for chicken eggs • Largest exporter of beef (buffalo beef) • About 54,000 vets (about 50% US number) • 60,000 paravets • 8732 vet hospitals and polyclinics • 17,830 veterinary dispensaries • 26 veterinary biological protection institutes • 25 veterinary colleges/universities

5. Purpose of the consultation • 1. Bring together key organizations in the Indian Veterinary profession, to gain engagement in strengthening the curriculum and accessibility of information resources in practice • 2. Identify key stakeholders providing veterinary services in India, and the Continuing Education needs of the profession • 3. Establish the information needs of the veterinary profession in India and any gaps in current information provision • 4. Identify appropriate sources of information, nationally and internationally • 5. Review appropriate knowledge delivery (mobile phone, internet, etc.) • 6. Identify the benefits of increasing problem solving in the Indian veterinary curriculum. • 7. Agree follow up actions to the meeting and identify resources needed to strengthen veterinary professional development and support, e.g. funding requirements and potential funding sources.

7. The need • 1. Veterinarians are important in supporting livelihoods, trade, and achieving growth objectives of the 12th 5-Year–Plan (2012-2017). • 3. India needs more veterinarians, probably more than double current numbers • 4. More veterinarians are needed for the increased domestic demand for food, and export opportunities • 5. Food safety and public health are key areas for greater veterinary input • 6. Developments should include private sector participation • 7. Need for Continuing Education for veterinarians to develop skills in business and communication • 8. The profile of veterinary education and of the profession needs to be raised

8. Who was involved • CABI • DARE & ICAR • Academia • Research • Military veterinary corps • Industry (pharma; Pfizer) • Production (Dairy Development boards) • Profession (VCI) • Trade • International (OIE, WHO, FAO, ILRI, GALVmed, Univ. Edinburgh, RVC, Sidai)

10. The issues • Insufficient veterinarians • Food production not meeting demand • Veterinarians need to re-purpose – dispensers of knowledge not dispensers of drugs • Prevention rather than treatment • Public health & food safety issues • Animal welfare • Better support for trade – international standards • Modernize the curriculum

11. Breakout discussions • Group 1: What changes to the curriculum are required to meet the challenges of the future? What partnerships could help achieve them? Facilitator: Prof.N. Sargison(Edinburgh Univ.) • Group 2: What developments in provision of Continuing Professional Development are needed to strengthen the vet profession in India? What partnerships could help achieve them? Facilitator Dr. N. Short (RVC) • Group 3: What support is needed by vets in industry and what partnerships with industry would benefit the veterinary profession? Facilitator, YashGoyal (Pfizer) • Group 4: Information provision, access and use. What are the main information needs of the vet profession in India? What partnerships could help achieve them? Facilitator, Robert Taylor (CABI) • Group 5: What partnership opportunities are there between international and national organizations in support of livestock educational programmes? • Facilitator Professor Gaya Prasad, ICAR

13. Meeting conclusions • • The Government of India recognises the important role of the veterinary profession in: • achieving the agricultural production growth targets of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan; • supporting livelihoods in the rural economy; • improving public health, and controlling zoonotic diseases (such as rabies) . • • Access to current international scientific knowledge is essential to strengthening the veterinary profession in India, and enabling practice to be based on evidence. • • The veterinary curriculum in India should be modernised to develop problem solving skills and an evidence-based approach in both teaching and learning.

14. Conclusions continued • • Continuing professional development is a vital part of raising the standards of the profession: a greater emphasis on life-long learning within the profession should be encouraged and veterinarians provided with the opportunities and the tools to achieve this. • • Public-private partnerships should be encouraged to maximise all available resources and capabilities in raising standards in the veterinary profession in India.

15. Next steps • Continuing Education proposals • Developing veterinarians to ensure food safety and welfare standards for trade • Involve more of the food companies for their drive • Further meeting in November 2013

17. Full report: • Http://www.cabi.org/uploads/file/VetMedResource/India_Vet_Report_2012_Final_G.pdf • (Or CAB Abstracts Record Number 20123168943) • Thank You • Robert Taylor • r.taylor@cabi.org