In Nepal, World Veterinary Day (April 25, 2009) was celebrated by Nepal Veterinary Association (NVA) with the important relationship between veterinarians and livestock farmers. NVA likes to congratulate all the vets and farmers around the globe on the eve of WVD !!!

About 80% of Nepal's 26 million people are engaged in subsistence-oriented agriculture, based on integrated crop-livestock or crop-livestock-forest farming system. Farmers keep livestock to provide essential support for agriculture production (draft power and compost), nutrition for the family, and household income. The livestock sector contributes about 31% of the agricultural GDP (AGDP). Within livestock, dairy accounts for 63% of the total value added, followed by meat (32%) and eggs (5%). Income from livestock as proportion of total income is particularly high and valuable for poorer farmers (about 20% of total income).

Altogether around 450 Veterinarians, 7500 mid level Technicians (JT/JTA) and 4669 lower level Technicians (VAHW) account for total manpower for veterinary service. In Nepal, Veterinarians are involved in animal health and welfare, improving farm productivity through advice on animal nutrition, animal genetics, farm facilities, disease and parasite control, as well as monitoring food safety risks, animal welfare and exotic diseases. All these Nepalese veterinarians make a significant contribution to the health and well being of livestock farmers and the associated industries that turn livestock into animal products in Nepal.

This year, NVA celebrated WVD with a weeklong celebrations and finally get-together on April 25 to conclude the ceremonial events. As the theme, “Veterinarians and Livestock farmers, a winning partnership”, NVA conduct and celebrate the day with veterinary professionals, paraprofessionals, farmers, livestock industrialist, consumers, veterinary students and community people. On WVD ’09, NVA with support of several other professional organizations, celebrated more than 11 events all over Nepal. Press Meet, Free Animal Health Camp, Free Dog Sterilization and ARV Vaccination Camp, Talk programs with famer societies, PPR Vaccination Camp, ARV Vaccination Camp and Annual General Meeting of NVA. Finally, the concluding ceremony was celebrated on April 25.

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Reported by Dr. Subir Singh, General Secretary, Nepal Veterinary Association