Nagaland
Information technology vital to revitalising mithun farming in Northeast India, says expert
DIMAPUR — Empowering mithun husbandry through information and communication technologies (ICT) is one of the strategies for revitalising mithun (Bos frontails) farming in Northeast India, said Dr. Girish Patil, Director of ICAR-NRC (National Research Centre) on Mithun, Medziphema.
The director was speaking on the topic ‘Strategies for development of mithun sector in North East India’ during a brainstorming session on the first Mithun Day celebration held at Medziphema on September 1.
Patil informed that as per the 20th livestock census 2019, the total mithun population was 3.9 lakh, out of which 89.7% are in Arunachal Pradesh, 5.98% in Nagaland, 2.36% in Manipur and 1.02% is in Mizoram.
He said that the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to support mithun husbandry is aimed at enhancing the efficiency, transparency and outreach of the sector.
The integration of ICTs in mithun husbandry goes beyond using tools, and it represents a shift in how communication and knowledge sharing are streamlined, said Patil.
He also shared that securing the health resilience of mithun herds necessitates a focused approach towards eradicating foot and mouth disease (FMD) and establishing robust disease-surveillance mechanism.
The ICAR-NRC director went on to say that addressing the challenges is pivotal to ensuring the well-being of the bovine and the stability of the husbandry sector.
Some of the strategies for achieving zero-FMD in mithun include mass vaccination campaigns, bio-security measures, community involvement, vigilant, surveillance, rapid response strategy, capacity building and policy support, he said.
“In a significance stride towards the evolution of mithun husbandry, there emerges a pressing need to establish a national Mithun Breeding Policy, whereby the pioneering policy framework is envisioned to serve as a guiding light for the systematic enhancement of mithun breeding practices at a national level,” Patil said.
He suggested that the objectives of the policy should include elevating genetic excellence, preserving genetic diversity, empowering communities, driving innovation and research.
Speaking about the characterisation of germaplasm and breed preservation, he said “this intervention seeks to rectify this gap and navigate towards the preservation of the unique mithun population present in the North East region”.
With urgent emphasis on characterisation, reporting and recording of both genetic and phenotypic attribute, this intervention lays the foundation for sustainable breed preservation and conservation efforts, he added.
On harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) for health and productivity, the director suggested the need for real time health monitoring, productivity enhancement, data driven decision making and barriers solutions.
On branding and commercialisation of the quality of mithun-based products, Patil said its hide is found to be superior in comparison to the traditional cow hide, and suggested commercialising artificial crafts to premium leather goods, targeting gourmet restaurants, eco-conscious consumers and specialty stores.
Further, underscoring the need to establish Farmers Producers Organisation (FPOs), he said it is an important step towards ensuring sustainable income for mithun farmers and to promote efficient management.