DIMAPUR, JULY 11 (MExN): Advisor for Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services and Women Resource Development, R. Khing met Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Giriraj Singh and his Joint Secretary O.P Choudhury on Thursday at New Delhi.
He was accompanied by Alan Gonmei, Commissioner & Secretary along with a team of officers from the Veterinary department.
A press release issued by PRO (IPR) Nagaland House, Kuolie Mere said the Advisor briefed the Union Minister about the potential of animal husbandry in the State because of its rich natural vegetation and food habit of the people.
He also informed about the importance of piggery & Mithun and the need to promote and conserve these livestock to meet the increasing demand in the State.
Towards this, he requested the Union Minister to provide all possible help from the Government of India for promotion of piggery, dairy & Mithun conservation & development for the State.
The Union Minister in response said he is already in touch with ICAR for Mithun development in Nagaland while also expressing the intention of the GoI to provide full support for Mithun development & conservation, the press release stated.
With pigs in high demand in the State, the Union Minister said he intended to make Nagaland and the other North East states ‘saturated with pigs’ so that the region will be self sufficient.
He also suggested that the State may replicate the Meghalaya Model on Pig Value Chain involving cooperative societies for production, management, slaughtering and marketing.
Further, Union Minister mentioned that incorporation of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) and Moringa in the State can reduce the cost of production of pigs by reducing the concentrated / industrial feeds.
He also suggested that the State should encourage silage making through usage of QPM along with it biomass through fodder development. The Union Minister assured to take up the proposal submitted by the State.
In the latter part of the day, the department officers also called on Ashok Pillai, Chief Director, NCDC at his office in New Delhi and discussed the modalities and possibilities for promoting Pig Value Chain through credit linkage in the State.
