Dimapur, July 28 : The director of the ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, based in Jharnapani, met with Chief Minister TR Zeliang at the residential office of the latter in Kohima town on July 28. Dr Abhijit Mitra, the director of the center, briefed the chief minister about the achievements of the institute, a press release from the organizers said on Thursday.
The institute is the world’s only research institution exclusively working for continual improvement and conservation of the mithun (bos frontalis), the note stated.
Mithun being the magnificent and unique bovine species has tremendous potential for providing livelihood besides having a special socio-cultural status amongst the tribal population of the region.
The discussion of the meeting focused on a number of issues namely registration of mithun as a food animal under the FSSAI; inclusion of mithun rearing as a profitable venture in the Vision-2030 of Nagaland; establishment of mithun farm s under the department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry of Nagaland; celebration of an event, possibly an annual ‘mithun day’ across the NE states and need of bankable schemes for mithun rearing.
“The institute, while constantly striving to exploit the potential of mithun as a source of meat, milk, hide and draught power has sought the active supports of the line departments of the mithun rearing states under the dynamic leadership of Nagaland chief minister who also own many mithun in his village,” the press release stated.
On his part, the chief minister is said to have ‘shown his zeal and keen interest’ to improving mithun husbandry. He is said to have lauded the ICAR-NRCM for its ‘continual scientific efforts towards understanding mithun production and health.’
“Dr Mitra expressed hope that, with intervention and guidance of the chief minister, the issues will be addressed and the mithun as well as the mithun farmers of the region will be immensely benefited,” the press release added.
