Dimapur, July 4 (MExN): ICAR-NRC on Mithun (ICAR-NRCM), Medziphema has assured to extend technical expertise to Mizoram in its new mithun project.
The Mizoram State Department of AH & Vety is launching an ambitious mithun project of Rs. 3.82 crores under New Economic Development Policy (NEDP) in order to increase the dwindling mithun population in the State. This was apprised by Dr. S. Sailo, Director, Department of AH & Vety, Govt. of Mizoram, while interacting with the Scientists of ICAR-NRCM, Medziphema on July 4 on his two-day visit to the center. Though mithun population registered a positive growth of 12.93% during the 19th Livestock Census, as low as 3287 mithuns were recorded in Mizoram.
Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Director, ICAR-NRC on Mithun, while welcoming the much-needed initiative, emphasized the potential of mithun farming as an alternative means of livelihood, stated a press release. Dr. Mitra further stressed that mithun farming if integrated with traditional jhuming can help the farmers as well as turn beneficial for the environment.
Dr. Lalhmingthanga, Deputy Director, Dept. of AH & Vety, Govt of Mizoram while elaborating about the project informed that the Department intends to establish one intensive Mithun Farm and five ranches for semi-intensive mithun farming.
Earlier on July 3, Dr. S Sailo accompanied by Dr. Lalhmingthanga visited the ICAR-NRCM mithun farm, which is the only intensive farm of mithun in the world, the release informed. They also visited the demonstration unit of semi-intensive mithun rearing in the farmer’s field at Molvum village.
In the Mizoram project, ICAR-NRCM will extend the technical expertise and package of practices for animal shed designing, developing infrastructure for semen labs and artificial insemination facility, feeding and breeding management and development of value-added products from mithun milk, meat, and leather, according to the release. It was also agreed to organize a stakeholder workshop in the month of August in Aizawl to promote mithun farming in the State.
