Dimapur, July 4 (EMN): Mithun (Bos frontalis) plays an important socio-economic and cultural role in the north eastern states of India. Although mithun population registered positive growth of 12.93% during the 19th Livestock Census, as low as 3287 mithuns are recorded in Mizoram.
In order to increase the dwindling mithun population in Mizoram, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry has launched an ambitious mithun project of Rs 3.82 crores under New Economic Development Policy (NEDP). This was apprised by Dr. S Sailo, Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Government of Mizoram, while interacting with the Scientists of ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, on July 4 during his two-day visit to the centre.
Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Director of ICAR-NRC on Mithun, while welcoming the much-needed initiative, emphasised on the potential of mithun farming as an alternative means of livelihood. Dr. Mitra further stressed that mithun farming, if integrated with traditional jhuming, can help both the farmer and benefit the environment.
Dr. Lalhmingthanga, Deputy Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Government of Mizoram, while elaborating about the project, informed that the department intended to establish one intensive Mithun farm and five ranches for semi-intensive mithun farming.
On July 3, Dr. S Sailo accompanied by Dr. Lalhmingthanga visited the mithun farm, which is the only intensive farm of mithun in the world. They also visited the demonstration unit of semi-intensive mithun rearing in the farmer’s field at Molvum village.
ICAR-NRCM, being one research organisation, will extend the technical expertise and package of practices for animal shed designing, developing infrastructure for semen labs and artificial insemination facility, feeding and breeding management and development of value-added products from mithun milk, meat, and leather. It was also agreed to organise a stakeholder workshop in the month of August at Aizawl to promote the mithun farming in the State.
