Dimapur, June 25 (EMN): ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, organised a two-day virtual training programme for pig farmers of eight districts of the NE states on “Establishment of entrepreneurship and marketing of piglets and pork products” on June 24 and 25. The district included Ri-Bhoi in Meghalaya, Mamit in Mizoram, Chandel in Manipur, Hailakandi in Assam, Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh, Kiphire in Nagaland, Dhalai in Tripura and West Sikkim (Sikkim).
An update from ICAR informed that the programme was organised as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence under Biotech-KISAN programme sponsored by department of Biotechnology, ministry of Science and Technology, government of India, in collaboration with nine partner institutes/ centres of the project namely ICAR National Research Centre on Pig, Rani, Guwahati, Assam; ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Mizoram Centre (Kolasib); Tripura Centre (Lembucherra); Sikkim Centre (Tadong, Gangtok); ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Ri-Bhoi, Umiam (Meghalaya); Namsai (Arunachal Pradesh); Hailakandi (Assam); Chandel (Manipur); Kiphire (Nagaland).
It stated that Dr. R Laha, principal scientist division of Animal and Fishery Sciences, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, and project coordinator of the programme, welcomed all dignitaries and briefed on the purpose of the training. He has thanked DBT for sponsoring the programme. He also thanked the director of ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya.
Dr. Mahesh Chander, head extension education division of Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly Izatnagat, Uttar Pradesh, and the chief guest of the inaugural session, has stressed on organic pig farming and organic pork production and its marketing with good packaging. He suggested the youth pig farmers to grab the market of northeast for income generation.
Dr. KK Baruah, head DAFS, ICAR RC NEHR, Umiam, Meghalaya, spoke about scope of agri business incubation in northeastern region, it said.
During the programme, lectures were delivered by experts from the institute and ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig, Rani Guwahati. Dr. Atul Borgohain, associate director of Extension Education, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, spoke on entrepreneurship development and marketing related to improve varieties of piglets production in village level, value added pork products, artificial insemination in pigs etc., it stated. It further stated that more than 250 pig farmers of eight districts of the Northeastern states have benefited through the training programme.
