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Our Correspondent
Jotsoma, May 1 (EMN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday emphasised on the importance of preserving mithun, which is also the state animal, saying that it represents the identity, unique culture and also the emblem of the Nagas.
He made this remark at the inaugural programme of the Mithun Bull Mother Farm at Puliebadze in Jotsoma, about 13 km away from Kohima.
While informing that the mithun project was a centrally-sponsored scheme under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) for conservation and development of the bovine population, he acknowledged all the mithun breeders from the village for handing over their animals to the Nagaland Livestock Development Board (NLDB), which is managing the programme for the common benefit.
Rio lauded the villagers of Jotsoma for allowing the government to implement the mithun project in their community forest at Puliebadze, a hotspot for tourists.
He also sought more co-operation from the villagers to make the project a reality, while sharing how mithuns had been used on many special occasions and festivals.
Recalling how the government of India allocated the mithun logo to the state of Nagaland based 'on the unique culture and tradition, history and identity of the people', the chief minister reminded the citizens to respect the animal by way of preserving and promoting it in order to keep the symbol of the Nagas intact.
He also shared about how the department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services had come up with a sperm bank to preserve the local mithun breed, which is different from other states like Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram and neighbouring countries like Myanmar.
Also sharing how ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun in the state was established to conserve the indigenous animal, he urged the department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services to do more on its part for the success of the project so that such a model may be implemented in other parts of the state too.
Rio also emphasised on rearing mithun and conserving the forest through both traditional and scientific ways, while exuding confidence that the mithun farm at Puliebadze would go a long way in becoming another feature of tourist attraction in Nagaland.
Meanwhile, he also went to the foothills of Mount Japfu, the second highest peak in Nagaland, via Puliebadze along with his son Kechangulie.
Dr. Neikeyielie Theünuo, managing director of NLDB, stated that the mithun project at Jotsoma had been formulated as a model to sustain the ecological balance of the reserve forest with maximum income generation so that the agricultural activities and deforestation can be stopped.
He informed that Jotsoma community reserved forest was one of the ‘biggest and best forests’ under Kohima district, having about 3500 hectares of native breeding tract for mithun, and that the MoU between NLDB and Jotsoma Village Council was executed on August 9, 2018.
On infrastructure development, Theünuo informed that two mithun sheds to accommodate a minimum of 100 elite bovines were completed; one attendant barrack; office and training centre to conduct research and training on mithun; water supply to the complex; ‘pucca’ fencing of one km perimeter for controlling, treatment, vaccination, feeding and other management activities have been completed.
It was also informed that all the mithuns belonging to individual farmers had been procured by NLDB and handed over to Jotsoma Village Council for the project.
The managing director apprised that altogether, about INR 150 lakh had been spent on the project. About 160 mithuns were purchased from the Jotsoma farmers and handed over to the village council, he informed, adding that about INR 90 lakh was spent on infrastructure development.
He stated that the project was expected to generate between INR 20 to 25 lakh per annum with the predetermined population capacity (250 to 300 mithun).
MLA Keneizhakho Nakhro stated that the ‘mithun project was a long-felt desire of the community at large’.
But considering that mithun communitisation could materialise only under the banner of this project with assistance from department, he said ‘it was a challenging task, as it has snatched away the lucrative income source of many individuals’. Nakhro also observed that there was conflict between forest conservation and mithun rearing, ‘as mithun grazing on tender plants and leaves, leading small plants to sprout, was causing an imbalance’. "Whereas keeping in mind the serious concern for biodiversity and natural regeneration of reserve forest, we opted to take up compartmental rearing of mithun with restricted number on shifting or rotational basis," he added.
However, the legislator assured the department of strictly following the breeding guidelines given by the technical experts to conserve and develop the best parent stock and produce the best mithuns with desired character of the Naga strain in colour, horn, size and shape etc. and make it available for further propagation to other mithun rearing villages as per the guidelines of the project.
"The village will co-operate and assist in research and training programmes in mithun conservation, development and propagation as mandated in the M0U," he said.
"Hence, it is an absolute pleasure to take the responsibility to protect, conserve the richness of biodiversity and being a guardianship is a joy, providing self-sufficient richness of natural resources, enabling mithun conservation, sustainable source of water for the last 50 years to capital town, clean air to breath and greener environment to live," he added.
R Khing, advisor for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, informed that the reserved forest of Jotsoma was chosen after conducting research and survey and in consultation with the village council and elders.
By taking care of the endangered mithun, the legacy and heritage of the forefathers has being preserved, he said, adding that such a project would bring economic benefit for the future generations.