Context: Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry has called on stakeholders to work towards the creation of region-specific animal disease-free zones in the country to boost exports of value-added meat products.
About Animal Disease Free Zone

• According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), zoning is a risk management strategy for achieving the progressive control and eradication of animal diseases, and for providing guarantees for international trade.
• Animal Disease Free Zone is one in which the absence of a specific infection in an animal population has been demonstrated in accordance with the relevant requirements. 

Importance of an Animal Disease Free Zone

• Animals are the life support system for the rural economy, they provide sustenance in difficult times and a great source of nutrition, particularly proteins, for the rural folk. There is a need to work to increase animal productivity.
• Moreover, India is the largest exporter of frozen and bovine meat. Hence, there is a need to create region-specific animal disease-free zones in the country.

What are the steps taken by the Government to help this initiative?

• National Animal Disease Control Programme
• National Livestock Mission (NLM)
• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority(APEDA)

How to achieve Animal Disease Free Zone?

• India must take small steps and work towards declaring small regions disease-free. For instance, creating an animal disease-free zone of a few districts at a time.