The document discusses the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. It describes FAO's role in modernizing and improving agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The document also outlines FAO's work in India, including programs related to transboundary animal diseases and animal genetic resources, as well as FAO's emergency response mechanisms for addressing animal disease outbreaks.

1. FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZATION (FAO) &
VETERINARY SECTOR IN
INDIA
BY- Dr. Abhijeet Anan Panda
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PATHOLOGY

2. What is food and agriculture
organization ?
• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads
international efforts to defeat hunger.
• It acts as a source of knowledge and information and thus
helps the developing countries to modernize and improve
agriculture (including livestock practices), forestry and fishery.
• It ensures good nutrition and food security for all.
“FIAT PANIS” (Latin) means
“Let there be bread”
FAO Emblem

3. FAO building- Palazzo, in Rome , Italy
Current Director General-
Jose Graziano da Silva (Brazil)
Only Indian Director General-
Binay Ranjan Sen (1956-67)

4. Key points-
• Formation – 16th October, 1945 in Quebac city, Canada
(FAO celebrates 16th Oct as World Food Day in memory of its founding
day.)
• Headquarter- Rome, Italy
• Parent organisation- UN Economic and social Council
• Number of members- 197 (194 member nations, 1 member
organization and 2 associate members)
• Composed of 6 departments-
1. Agriculture and consumer protection (“Animal Production and
Health” is one of its branch)
2. Economic and social development
3. Fisheries and Aquaculture
4. Forestry
5. Corporate Services
6. Technical Cooperation and Programme Management

5. Priority work areas
• Help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition
• Make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and
sustainable
• Reduce rural poverty
• Enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems
• Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises

6. FAO in India
• India – one of FAO’s founding member
• FAO’s operation in India started in 1948
• M.S. Swaminathan- “FAO has played a catalytic role in India’s
progress in the areas of crop and animal production and food
security.”
• Office – New Delhi
• Current FAO representative of India- Mr. Shyam Khadka

7. FAO’s future goals in INDIA
• Farmer’s water school in Uttar Pradesh- Ground water
utilization in surface irrigation
• Grand project of IFAD (International fund for agriculture
development) in Odisha and north-eastern states for
diversification of livelihoods into sustainable forest based
agro-enterprises.
• Nutrition sensitive agriculture, hygiene and sanitation
practices targeted at tribal population of Odisha
• Green agriculture project for biodiversity conservation
• Assistance in combating anti-microbial resistance
• Promotion of biomass based energy generation pilot projects
• Focus on grazing based livestock production
• Highlighting importance of small ruminant and backyard
poultry farming

8. 2 major programmes related
to veterinary sector-
• Trans-boundary pests and diseases
• FAO established an Emergency Prevention System for Trans-
boundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases in 1994,
focusing on the control of diseases like rinderpest, foot-and-
mouth disease and avian flu by helping governments
coordinate their responses.
• One key element is the Global Rinderpest Eradication
Programme (large tracts of Asia and Africa have now been free
of Rinderpest)
• Animal Genetic Resources
• FAO assists countries in implementation of the Global Plan of
Action for Animal Genetic Resources.
• FAO supports a variety of ex situ and in situ conservation
strategies including cryoconservation of animal genetic
resources.

9. Trans-boundary animal
diseases
• These are highly contagious epidemic diseases that can spread
rapidly irrespective of national borders. They cause high
morbidity and mortality in animals and also impose zoonotic
threats.
• Examples- FMD, Brucellosis, PPR, Anthrax, Bovine spongiform
encephalitis, Influenza (Avian or Swine), Tuberculosis etc
• Since 2004, FAO has been at the forefront of the fight against
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in over 95 countries.
• In June 2011, years after battle with Rinderpest, FAO formally
declared the disease to be eradicated.
• Now FAO is acting for the control and eradication of PPR.
• FAO works in close cooperation with local veterinary services
to limit the spread of Rift valley fever.

10. FAO animal disease emergency
response mechanism
• Emergency Prevention System (EMPRES)- develops strategies
for intervention and improved management in monitoring and
giving early warnings to prevent animal diseases.
• Emergency Centre for Trans boundary Animal Diseases
(ECTAD)- It is FAO’s corporate centre for planning and delivery
of veterinary assistance to FAO member countries responding
to threat of trans boundary animal health crises.
• The Crisis Management Centre-Animal Health- It is FAO’s
rapid response unit to animal disease emergencies.

11. Website- www.fao.org