In a major milestone for India’s veterinary biotechnology sector, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (ICAR-NIHSAD), Bhopal, has developed the country’s first indigenous vaccine against African swine fever (ASF).
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan dedicated the vaccine to the nation during the ICAR Foundation Day celebrations, in the presence of Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
According to ICAR, the live attenuated vaccine has been developed using the widely available MA-104 cell line, offering a cost-effective and scalable alternative to proprietary manufacturing platforms. The approach enables large-scale domestic production while reducing dependence on imported technologies.
The vaccine has successfully completed comprehensive laboratory evaluations, including sterility, purity, safety, genetic stability, immunogenicity, protective efficacy and virulence reversion studies. It has also undergone field validation in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
Since African swine fever was first detected in India in 2020, the disease has caused significant economic losses to the country’s pig farming sector. ASF outbreaks in Assam during 2020 and 2021 resulted in estimated losses of around Rs. 276 crore (US$29.56 million). In Mizoram, approximately Rs. 982 crore (US$105.16 million) in financial losses were reported up to 2025.
The indigenous vaccine is expected to significantly reduce pig mortality, reduce economic losses and improve the livelihoods of pig farmers, particularly in the North-Eastern region, where ASF outbreaks have been most severe.
Recommended for pigs older than eight weeks, the vaccine is administered as a 1 mL intramuscular injection, followed by a booster dose after 14 days.
By strengthening disease preparedness and livestock biosecurity, the vaccine is expected to support the sustainable growth of India’s pig farming sector while reinforcing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
ICAR said the innovation places India among the few countries with indigenous African Swine Fever vaccine capabilities, creating opportunities to emerge as a global supplier of affordable veterinary vaccines while strengthening the country’s biotechnology ecosystem, livestock health security and agricultural resilience.
