Animal diseases pose a major impediment for a flourishing livestock sector in meeting the increasing global demand for livestock products. An economic analysis of the impacts of animal diseases, if accurately formulated and estimated, will provide an invaluable basis for policy directions and budgetary allocations, research direction and extension of effective animal disease prevention and control technologies and practices. The analysis of economic impacts due to animal diseases is assessed through its major sources of impacts viz., direct effects of the disease, costs incurred on control and preventive measures and other externalities like market disruption and effects beyond the livestock sector. The level of impact is also affected by the context such as production system, social system, food system and economy. The impact is felt at every level starting from the smallholders, large commercial producers, pastoralists, retailers, processors and consumers. A carefully crafted animal disease programme or policy will provide tremendous benefits in terms of food security, poverty alleviation and general economic welfare.
Anjoo Yumnam*
Division of Technology Assessment and Capacity Building, ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India
Pampi Paul
N.U. Singh
A. Roy
Chikkathimme Gowda
K.P. Biam
S.B. Singh
B.P. Singh
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