ICAR-CIFT, Heal Ponnurunni Society sign pact
ICAR-CIFT director George Ninan and Heal Ponnurunni Society president and Kochi Corporation councillor Dipin Dileep signed the MoU in the presence of Mayor M. Anilkumar. Mr. Ninan explained the technologies developed by ICAR-CIFT under the Swachhta Action Plan.
ICAR-CIFT has developed Bioboost, a bacterial consortium and compost, and Microboost, a consortium for waste management for environmental protection and ecological farming. As part of the agreement, these products were handed over to Heal Ponnurunni Society. ICAR-CIFT will assist the society in expanding its activities across more areas.
The Heal Ponnurunni Society's project of collecting waste from households and establishments and turning it into organic manure for farming has received widespread attention and won recognition at various national and local conclaves.
The manure being marketed by the brand name Heal Environment is sold for ₹30 per kilogram. The society also undertakes farming on vacant plots in the division based on an understanding with landowners. At present, farming is under way across 76 cents.
Crops thus cultivated are being sold through the society's Heal Harvest outlet near the Vytilla flyover. Residents in the division can contact the society for issues like waste movement through its call centre (Ph: 8139060345).
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Mint
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- Mint
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News18
30-07-2025
- News18
Cattle Virus Surges, Yet Goat Vaccine Used Despite India's Own Breakthrough Shot
Since 2022, India has a scientifically proven, indigenous Lumpy Skin Disease-specific vaccine readily available but there has been no national rollout despite outbreak warnings India is risking a severe wave of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) outbreaks among cattle by continuing to rely on an outdated vaccine despite having a scientifically proven shot, Dr Naveen Kumar, chief of the National Institute of Virology, Pune, has told News18. A painful and infectious viral disease, LSD, which primarily affects cattle and water buffalo, is resurging in parts of India, with fresh outbreaks reported in Maharashtra's Pune, Akola, Satara and Buldhana districts. However, the majority of Indian states, despite losing thousands of animals to LSD, are using 'goatpox vaccination' made from the goatpox virus (GTPV). The goatpox vaccine, as the name suggests, was originally developed for goats. It began to be used in cattle only as a temporary solution when no specific vaccine was available to protect them against the viral LSD. However, that is no longer the case. India, since 2022, has a scientifically proven, indigenous LSD-specific vaccine readily available. Kumar, who is director of India's premier virology institute and also the lead inventor of India's only LSD-specific vaccine, Lumpi-ProVac, told News18: 'While a safer and efficacious homologous vaccine is available, the country continues to use the goatpox vaccine." Kumar developed the vaccine during his stint at ICAR's National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE), Hisar, during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, while Kumar and his team pushed for emergency approval of the vaccine, it wasn't able to get through, and India kept on using the goatpox vaccine. 'I isolated an LSD virus during the 2019 outbreak and developed a homologous, live-attenuated vaccine using the Ranchi strain. 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Dual vaccine policy creating confusion Although the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) issued a letter on June 11, 2025, allowing the use of the LSD vaccine alongside goatpox, it stopped short of clearly discontinuing goatpox. As a result, most state animal husbandry departments continue prioritising goatpox, citing existing stockpiles and lack of directive. This has led to confusion among veterinary authorities and state policymakers. 'DAHD must issue clear instructions to phase out goatpox, as it offers limited protection. Moreover, simultaneous use of both vaccines raises the risk of recombination between the GTPV (Uttarkashi strain) and LSDV (Ranchi strain) vaccine viruses, potentially leading to the emergence of a more virulent virus," Kumar pointed out. Similar concern has been raised by the co-inventor of the vaccine, Dr BN Tripathi, who headed the National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE), Hisar, at the time Kumar invented the vaccine. 'This dual vaccine policy is causing deep confusion among state veterinary authorities," Tripathi, former deputy director general (Animal Science), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, told News18. 'Unless DAHD issues clear orders to phase out goatpox, states will keep using it, despite its poor protection. Worse, using both vaccines simultaneously could lead to recombination between the vaccine strains—potentially creating a more virulent virus." Despite vaccinating over 100 million cattle annually with goatpox since 2021, India has seen no conclusive evidence of its effectiveness. In Maharashtra alone, during the 2022 outbreak, over 4.18 lakh cattle contracted LSD despite being vaccinated, resulting in 32,000 deaths. 'Public spending on goatpox vaccine already exceeds Rs 400 crore annually," Tripathi said. Why are cattle being given a goat vaccine? 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Hailed for 'Chamatkarik Parinam" by CM Yogi top videos View all The vaccine's transformative power was seen at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's gaushala in Gorakhpur. Despite two rounds of goatpox vaccination, the LSD outbreak continued in 2023. At the CM's request, the indigenous vaccine was used — and the outbreak was brought under control almost immediately. 'He was informed that while the vaccine is not yet approved, this can be injected. The vaccine showed results and, in fact, at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) convocation on June 30, Yogi praised the vaccine's performance as a 'chamatkarik parinam" (miraculous outcome) and voiced frustration over delays in national rollout." About the Author Himani Chandna Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 30, 2025, 10:21 IST News india Cattle Virus Surges, Yet Goat Vaccine Used Despite India's Own Breakthrough Shot Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
27-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
PMC seeks explanation from zoo authorities over deer deaths
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