Veterinary biologicals firm Indian Immunologicals Ltd. has decided to set up its next animal vaccine manufacturing unit at Puducherry.
A wholly subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), it has acquired 30 acres in the Union Territory. This would be the fourth unit of IIL – it has two in Hyderabad and one at Ootacamund.
Sharing details of the growth plans at a press meet here on Friday, NDDB chairman T. Nanda Kumar estimated the investment to be between Rs.200 crore and Rs.300 crore. The project schedule, he added, would be drawn up when the demand for animal vaccines increases.
IIL chief general manager G.S. Reddy said the company wants to be prepared as “the day the government asks [for more weekly vaccine doses] then it will be easy”. The plant, he replied to a query, may take shape next year.
New products
The company, the officials said, is working on several new products, including vaccines for goats and parasitic diseases as also for classical swine fever or hog cholera.
To a query, Mr. Nanda Kumar said the National Dairy Plan, being implemented from 2012, is likely to be extended by about six months beyond the scheduled completion in 2017. The three components of the Rs.2,240 crore programme, being implemented mostly with World Bank funds – NDDB has put in Rs.200 crore – are to improve breed, provide balanced diet for increased milk yield, reduce feed cost and strengthen the cooperative system in rural areas.
On global milk supplies, he said there was growth in the demand for milk, particularly after Russia stopped procurements and China slowed down purchases.
Mr. Nanda Kumar earlier addressed a seminar on large and small animal diseases organised by IIL to bring policy makers, administrators, scientists and academicians together and discuss animal health issues. According to a release, the objective of the two-day programme, which began on Friday, is to facilitate a unique platform for updates in epidemiology, control measures and trends in large and small ruminant diseases.
