PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 9 -- The Uttar Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (UPCST) has awarded funding to the Indian Institute of Information Technology-Allahabad (IIIT-A) for an innovative project titled "AI System Design and Development to Tackle Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Cattle from Rural Areas." The project is spearheaded by Prof Satish Kumar Singh and associate professor Shiv Ram Dubey from IIIT-A's department of information technology. This three-year research initiative aims to develop an AI-powered diagnostic system capable of detecting and monitoring foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cattle using thermal imaging, mobile technology and computer vision. The system will enable early identification of infected animals, help prevent large-scale outbreaks and provide farmers with accessible digital tools in local languages, explained Prof Satish Kumar Singh. Foot-and-mouth disease remains a serious concern in Uttar Pradesh, especially in western districts where seroprevalence rates reach up to 46.67%. The disease is endemic, with a high incidence during winter and in the semi-arid agro-climatic zones, driven largely by cattle movement and dense populations of susceptible animals. Aligned with the government of Uttar Pradesh's vision for "Smart Villages," "Digital Empowerment," and "Doubling Farmers' Income," this project is poised to directly benefit the state's rural economy. By integrating AI-based solutions into livestock management, it supports sustainable agriculture, improves animal health, and reduces economic losses for farmers, Prof Singh added. The project underscores the use of technology for social welfare and contributes to the goals of rural development, Atmanirbhar Krishi (self-reliant agriculture), and the Digital India Mission. Once implemented, the AI system can be extended to address other veterinary diseases, strengthening the rural healthcare and livestock ecosystem....