India, Jan. 26 -- The Maharashtra animal husbandry department will begin manufacturing goatpox vaccine at its Pune-based Institute of Veterinary Biological Products (IVBP), making it the first government-run institute in India to develop and produce the vaccine, officials said.

With this, Maharashtra - which, like other states, is currently entirely dependent on private manufacturers for the vaccine - aims to reduce dependence on the private sector while ensuring assured, large-scale availability of the vaccine for livestock farmers.

Sheetal Kumar Mukane, joint commissioner, animal husbandry, Maharashtra, said, "The decision to manufacture goatpox vaccine at IVBP Pune will strengthen disease control efforts and ensure timely availabilit...