Dignitaries at the ‘Mithun Mela cum Technology Awareness’ programme on February 4. (Photo Courtesy: ICAR)
Imphal, February 7 (MExN): The Indian Council of Agricultural Research - National Research Centre on Mithun (ICAR-NRC on Mithun), under Tribal sub-plan (TSP), in collaboration with Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal and Apunba Imagi Machasing Manipur (AIMS) along with Machi Village Authority organised ‘Mithun Mela cum Technology Awareness’ programme at the Bungtung-See Kung, Machi Village, Tengnoupal District, Manipur on February 4.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Abhijit Mitra, Director of ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland said that the North Eastern region of India is the home to many Mithuns and there are already Mithun rearing communities. Emphasizing on the benefits of rearing Mithun locally known as sandang, he said Mithun is useful not only for its meat but also its milk and other products. Acknowledging the socio-economic and cultural role played by sandang or mithun in the lives of North East communities, Dr Mitra said “Whenever we talk about Mithun, we should remember five Ms: M for Mithun, M for meat, M is for milk, M is for money and fifth M is for marriage.” He said rearing Mithun as an occupation can comfortably sustain the social and economic lives of the people. Dr Mitra said that Mithun is indeed a “walking ATM” from where anyone could not only save money but also withdraw money with reasonable returns. He advised the Mithun farmers who had come to attend the programme to opt for the correct and scientific method of rearing Mithuns as to sustain prosperous community but also increase the overall economic growth of the state and the country.
The chief guest of the programme Professor M Premjit Singh, the Vice Chancellor of Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal focused on need for forming a Mithun or sandang rearing ‘club’ and associating the same club with farmers in the hills and valley of Manipur for further result-oriented programmes after procuring the necessary funds from government agencies. He added that rearing sandang with vision and target orientation can indeed boost the overall economy of Manipur.
Giving additional information on the rearing of sandang or Mithuns in Manipur, Dr. H. Chaoba Singh, Director, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, Government of Manipur said a lot more can be done for developing the interests of rearing Mithuns through his department. He also advised the farmers in various ways to treat unhealthy sandang and young calves. He also extended his directorate’s help and aid in areas needed to provide a healthy environment for taking good care of animals.
Morung Makunga, a former minister, the Government of Manipur, stated that Mithun or sandang plays a great role in the socio-economic, cultural and economic lives of the people of his community, the Maring tribe of Manipur. He said even the naming convention of children in his tribe begins with a sacrifice of Mithun so that the child grows up and lead a life “worth his name”. On the occasion also the Maring community of Machi Village submitted a memorandum to the Dr Abhijit Mitra, Director of ICAR-NRC on Mithun requesting him to grant various facilities including barbed-wire fencing of geographical areas identified for rearing Mithuns.
The other dignitaries who spoke on the occasion and attended the programme include Dr CA Srinivashmurthy, Director, Research, CAU, Imphal, Dr Ratan Kumar Saha, Director, Extension, CAU, Imphal and veteran journalist Yambem Laba. During the occasion, the visiting dignitaries assured of further institutional based help for building a favorable condition so that the initiatives taken so far are further extended.
