Chizokho Vero
Medziphema | June 2
Minister for School Education & SCERT, Yitachu today called for the conservation and “meaningful existence of the Mithun” in Nagaland.
The animal, which has become synonymous with Nagaland, plays an important role in the social, cultural and economic life of the local tribal population and is now getting international recognition.
Once the Act East Policy is put in place, Yitachu said that the Mithun culture can be passed on to Southeast Asian countries to boost the state’s economy.
Speaking at the 29th Foundation Day of the National Research Centre on Mithun (NRCM) here today, the Minister lauded the centre for its efforts and said that the NRCM has gained wide recognition.
On the Mithun’s significance in Naga culture, Yitachu said that in his village at Meluri sub division of Phek district, the status and wealth of persons in the village was based on the number of Mithuns one had. Even disputes were settled based on the same account, he said.
The Minister however expressed concern that despite funds being provided by the government, the scale of benefit being derived by the actual farmers has been less. He attributed this to a culture of personal incentive based motives.
“Whatever subsidy and help is extended by the government are being received by those who don’t actually do farming. The true farmers have no time to visit the office as they think that if they do visit office and take a day or two day out then their chicks, cows and pigs will die.”
In this, Yitachu wanted the NRCM not to focus on giving incentives but to be a centre of giving information and helping farmers to grow on their own. “Then the purpose of this institution will last. But if we give incentive to the villagers as prior objective then the purpose of this institution may be diluted. We have to read the minds of the citizens. We have to understand the minds of our citizens,” he added.
The Minister was optimistic that the NRCM will prosper and assured that the state government would extend its support to them and also raise issues on their behalf with the Government of India as and when required.
NRCM Director, Dr Abhijit Mitra meanwhile informed that the centre was working towards a bankable scheme for Mithun rearing in Nagaland, by keeping in touch with NABARD. He further said that Mithun rearing has eco-tourism potentials as well. He also informed that the centre was in touch with the Airport Authority of India to install a Mithun statue at the arrival entrance of Dimapur Airport. An MoU for this has already been signed.
Dr. Chandan Rajkhowa, former Director, ICAR-NRCM said that mithun has a tremendous potential to transform the lives of the tribal population in the North east region. He expressed satisfaction at the progress made by the institute is past years and gave credit to the staff there who he said have worked with sincerity & zeal.
The NRCM was established in June 1988 under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to provide impetus on the research work on Mithuns. It has been playing a key role in conservation, breeding, nutrition and health management of Mithuns.
The scientists of NRCM in the past 25 years have generated information in all aspects of Mithun production and have developed many farmer friendly technologies to make Mithun husbandry an economically successful venture. According to the Livestock Census 2012, the total Mithun population in India stands 2,98, 264. Out of this; 2, 49000 are available in Arunachal Pradesh; followed by 34, 871 in Nagaland; 10,131 in Manipur and 3, 287 in Mizoram. Apart from this, a small number of Mithuns were also reported from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
