Arooj Zulfiqar

Pakistan has obtained seed virus from the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) for local production of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccine to eradicate sheep and goat plague by 2028. According to the information available with WealthPK, Food and Agriculture Organisation’s representative in Pakistan, Mr Farrukh Toirove, handed over the seed package worth Euro 25,000 to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. PPR, also known as sheep and goat plague, has been a pervasive threat to global livestock populations, causing significant economic losses and affecting the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

This is one of the trade-restrictive diseases of animals.

CIRAD experts will also provide training for storage of seed and cell lines. The plague causes annual losses of more than $342 million through high levels of morbidity and mortality. FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have jointly launched a global programme to eradicate PPR by 2030.

Pakistan has set its target of eradicating PPR by 2028.

The immediate benefit lies in the ability to produce high-quality PPR vaccines in sufficient quantities within the country. This reduces the reliance on imported vaccines, thereby saving valuable foreign exchange resources. The long-term benefit is the widespread availability of the PPR vaccine derived from the seed virus, which will lead to the eradication of the PPR disease in Pakistan. This will result in zero incidence of the disease, safeguarding the health and well-being of livestock in the country. Secondly, the eradication of PPR disease has significant economic implications. Pakistan incurs an estimated loss of Rs60 billion annually due to PPR disease.

By preventing PPR outbreaks, these losses can be mitigated, resulting in substantial cost savings for the livestock industry and the national economy as a whole. Furthermore, the availability of the seed virus will ensure that all provinces in Pakistan can engage in local vaccine production. This decentralised approach enhances the resilience and effectiveness of PPR control measures throughout the country, ultimately improving the livelihoods of livestock farmers.

Credit: INP-WealthPk