Punjab CM lays foundation stone of FMD vaccine plant

Rauni, Patiala, Oct 13 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today underscored the need to have disease free animals to give a boost to the milk production in the state and to exploit the optimum export potential of the livestock and its products.

While addressing a public gathering after laying the foundation stone of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccine Production Plant being set up by Hind Bio-Pharmaceuticals Ltd at a cost of Rs 140 crore here, Capt Singh said that this plant in the state would prove to be a milestone in combating the Foot and Mouth disease, which was not only fatal but also caused huge losses in term of reduction in milk production, abortion and loss of health in draught animals.

Capt Singh further said that 22 per cent of the peasantry constituted of small and marginal farmers with less than 1 to 1.5 acres for which traditional agriculture was totally unsustainable and non-remunerative.

''We will have to shift to allied farming to ensure better returns to our farmers and make them self reliant otherwise they will be gradually vanished if not properly motivated towards diversification,'' said Capt Singh.

He further informed that the state had already tied up with Reliance, ITC, Godrej and Bharti Group to undertake contract farming because existing cropping pattern of wheat and paddy was no more remunerative.

''The vaccine will roll in the market in the year 2008 with the production capacity of more than 100 million doses. It is hoped that the control of FMD in India does not remain a dream with the setting up of this plant at Patiala since the availability of FMD vaccine will be in abundance which will protect our precious livestock against FMD,'' Hind Bio-Pharmaceuticals limited managing director Sirajuddin Qureshi said.

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