Domestic avian influenza and goatpox vaccines are going to the farm level

For the first time in the country, an initiative has been taken to commercially produce and deliver the avian influenza and goatpox vaccines developed using domestic technology to the farm level. These two vaccines developed by the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) have been officially handed over to the Department of Livestock for commercial production and field expansion.

The handover ceremony was held at the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock at the Secretariat on Tuesday (August 11).

Domestic vaccines will reach farmers

In his speech as the chief guest at the event, Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said that the avian influenza and goatpox vaccines developed by BLRI will be commercially produced and delivered to the farm level.

He said that the livestock sector is an important part of the country's agricultural economy. If diseases in this sector cannot be controlled, farmers may face major financial losses.

Especially diseases like avian influenza can have a major impact on poultry production and farm management. Therefore, it is very important to develop and increase the capacity to produce effective vaccines domestically.

Initiatives to reduce import dependence

The minister said that these vaccines developed through domestic technology and research will play an important role in controlling diseases in the livestock and poultry sector. In addition, these innovations will be helpful in reducing production costs and reducing import dependence in the field of vaccines.

He also expressed hope that if the capacity to produce vaccines in the country increases, the livestock sector will become stronger in the future.

Hope to move towards self-sufficiency

Speaking as a special guest at the event, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku said that import dependence will be reduced as the capacity to produce vaccines domestically is created.

He said that through such initiatives, Bangladesh will gradually move towards self-sufficiency in vaccine production.

Who was present

Senior officials of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock were present at the handover ceremony. In addition, Director General of the Department of Livestock Md. Shahzaman, Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Dr. Shakila Faruk, various scientists and researchers, university teachers and doctors, industrial entrepreneurs, farm representatives and representatives of vaccine manufacturing companies also participated in the ceremony.

If these two domestically developed vaccines can be commercialized and reached the farm level, it can play an important role in controlling diseases in poultry and goat farming as well as reducing production costs and risks for farmers.