Recently outbreaking strain of FMD:

"These doctors didn't visit my shed until I lost my livestock" said Madhu Sapkota from Lanku, Chitwan bitterly in the sense of grief over the loss of his four livestock which were the primary source of income. Also,other added , " We never noticed the death of animals due to FMD in previous years". Likewise ,there are  many farmers in Chitwan who have lost their cattles due to a plague of FMD virus and the rate of swampness of livestock (especially exotic breed) is soaring very quickly in recent days. The situation in Chitwan is so miserable that livestocks are dying in front of the vetenarians  under treatment day by day causing the great economic loss to the farmers.

Foot and Mouth Disease(Khoret) is highly contagious disease affecting cloven foot animals characterized by  fever and vesicular eruption in mouth and on feet. The causative agent is Apthovirus of which seven strains(A, O, C, SAT, SAT₂, SAT₃ and ASIA-1) strains are found but recently devastating strain is unknown. Mostly ,exotic breeds are succumbed to the disease in comparison to local breeds. Winter period is the appropriate season for outbreak of disease. The incubation period is 2- 10 days.

Symptoms:                                                                                        

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       The development of vesicle in feet.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       Blister appear on the tongue , lips, cheeks and skin, around the feet , teats and udder. The blister cause heavy flow of saliva that hangs from the lips.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       Rise of body temperature to 106? .

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       Loss of appetite and body weight.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       Effected animals shake limbs.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       Abortion in pregnant animals. Especially young calves are highly susceptible.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       Loss in milk yield.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       The hoof may be cast or deformed.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       In severe condition, death of animals  is seen in recently found strain.

Preventive measures:

Prevention is only the dependable method dealing with FMD.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       Disinfection of shed with 5% phenol solution(vircane 5gram in 1 liter of water).

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       Vaccination with FMD(Ranbaxy company is best) before initiation of winter.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       The foot lesions should be treated with 1% copper sulphate or phenyl lotion(Himax or Chermil).

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       Mouth should be washed with 2% solution of alum.

?span style="font-size: 7pt line-height: normal font-family: 'Times New Roman'">       The animal should be fed with soft and tender green grass.

Beside ,the above mentioned causes there are other various reasons for outbreak of FMD leading to the fiasco in livestock farming. Lack of awareness, poor economic condition, limited sanitary and medical approaches, less accessibility to vetenerians at proper time, no decent management, etc seems to be the practical causes to be hightlightened  in context of Nepal though they seems extravagant. Though, Mr. Sapakota's reactions seems bitter, it's frustrating and depressing because the loss of four livestock is the loss of opulence which was the major source to sustain his family.

This great economic loss smashed the faint hope in raising the life standard by  utilizing knowledge and labor in Nepal from agricultural sector. As like the FMD and its devastating consequences , many factors come into limelight which alarm the farmers about the frustrating situation of the country. Such type of news have accounted a lot in ruining the beliefs of innovative farmers. Now, as a youth agriculturist ,here comes a challenge for us to persuade the farmers, mitigate the existing problems, combat against all traditional concept and practices, dignify the nation by disseminating the light of knowledge as like torchlight and becoming a path finder in exploring opportunities in agriculture and finally to prove that "agriculture is  the best enterprise ever done in earth".

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