Estimation of the Factors Influencing the Economic Losses Due to Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Tamil Nadu

A study was conducted to estimate the factors influencing economic loss due to FMD at the farm level. The data were collected from the sample of 120 cattle farms randomly selected from six blocks from Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts of Tamil Nadu respectively. A regression model was fitted using the possible predisposing factors to explain the variations in the FMD losses. The coefficient of multiple determination (R2) in the model fitted was high (0.50), implying that the model was a good fit. The estimated regression coefficients of the variables, viz., vaccination status was found to be significant and the cumulative awareness and attitude scores of the farmers towards FMD was found to be significant at ten per cent significant level. The severe economic losses estimated to be arising out of FMD was mainly due to lack of awareness and attitude towards the FMD disease and vaccination against FMD. Realizing the enormous losses caused by the disease, the cattle owners should be made to focus more attention towards this disease through creation of adequate awareness among them through suitable extension programmes for prevention and control of FMD.