The production of ‘Lumpy Skin’ vaccine against cattle is set to take place in Nepal. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Services is currently preparing for the production of ‘Lumpy Skin’ vaccine, and a private company, Hester Bio Sciences Nepal, has already initiated the production. Hester has conducted tests for the vaccine production and submitted an application to the Department of Drug Management two weeks ago for approval.
Dr. Sulochana Shrestha, the chief of Hester, has informed that all preparations for the production of ‘Lumpy Skin’ vaccine against cattle have been completed, including all the necessary tests. She mentioned, ‘All types of tests have been conducted for production. We have now submitted a written application to the Department of Drug Management for approval. Production will commence upon obtaining permission.’
Hester has obtained permission from the Department of Livestock Services to produce the ‘Lumpy Skin’ vaccine against cattle, importing the main seed (Master Seed) from Tanzania. A sample has been sent to Tanzania for testing, and further reports are awaited. Hester has notified the authorities once permission is received from the Department of Drug Management and the final report from Tanzania, the production will start.
The Department of Livestock Services will purchase the vaccine from Hester for production. Dr. Shrestha stated, ‘The Department of Livestock Services plans to purchase the vaccine from Hester until it starts its own production.’ Although verbal discussions have taken place between Hester and the Department of Livestock Services, no written agreement has been established yet. Dr. Shrestha clarified that written agreements will be made after the production begins.
Even though production preparations have begun, there is no written agreement between Hester and the Department of Livestock Services until now. Dr. Shrestha mentioned that verbal discussions have occurred, and written agreements will be formalized once production begins. The goal is to produce 12 crore doses of the ‘Lumpy Skin’ vaccine against cattle within a year, with an initial production target of 26 lakh doses. According to Dr. Shrestha, the Department of Livestock Services plans to purchase a significant number of vaccine doses and export the rest.
Hester’s chief, Dr. Shrestha, claims that they are providing the vaccine at a much lower cost than what the government has purchased from abroad. The Department of Livestock Services had issued a tender to purchase the vaccine from abroad at a cost ranging from two hundred to three hundred rupees per dose. However, Hester claims to provide the vaccine at a cost of 25 to 30 rupees per dose.
If necessary, the Department of Livestock Services in Nepal will receive support from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Kenya, which has committed to assisting in the study and production of the ‘Lumpy Skin’ vaccine against cattle. The team from ILRI is expected to arrive in Nepal soon for research purposes.
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