Dimapur, December 2 (MExN): For the first time in History of India, ‘Mithun Festival 2008’ is being celebrated to commemorate the progress made in the field of Mithun Husbandry at NRC-Mithun, Jharnapani. The festival is organized by the National Research Centre on Mithun, Jharnapani, Medziphema and supported by NABARD Dimapur.
Mithun (Bos Frontalis), a unique bovine species, have a limited geographical distribution and is mainly found in the tropical rain forests of the northeastern hilly states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. Recently, in 2003 census, 24000 Mithuns are said to be available in Jammu and Kashmir as well stated a report from the National Research Centre on Mithun. Mithuns are also available in small numbers in Myanmar, China, Bangladesh and Bhutan. However, according to the 2003 livestock census, out of the total mithun population in India (0.28 million), 69.1% are available in Arunachal Pradesh followed by 14.4% in Nagaland, 8.6 in Jammu and Kashmir, 7.2% in Manipur and 0.7% in Mizoram. The population of Mithun has increased at an annual rate of 7.6% over the last two decades, stated the National Research Centre on Mithun report.
The Vision, mission and mandate of National Research Centre of Mithun, stated the report, is to develop profitable and productive mithun based livestock production system for the North Eastern hilly tribes. Speaking at the inaugural function of the two days Mithun Festival 2008, the Director of the Research Centre C.Rajkhowa said that due to modernization, related developmental activities, the grazing areas of the mithun inhabitat regions are gradually declining, and the animals are not getting proper attention, as it should have. He also reminded that the institute has generated much valuable information in the last several years for the benefit of the farming community. To percolate these technologies to the farming community, the festival will organize farmers’ workshop for intensive interaction of Mithun rearers with the technocrats and NGOs, who are engaged in the field of Mithun husbandry. The institute will also organize a Mithun show along with the farmers’ fair today at KVK, NRC-Mithun, Porba, Phek, where technologies will be exhibited for giving an exposure to the farmers about the integrated farming system approach.
