Advisor, Rural Development, Dr. Nicky Kire, and Secretary, NEC, Ram Muivah, along with others at the inauguration of the scientific slaughter house in Jalukie, on July 20. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Jalukie (Peren) | July 20
Jalukie valley, known as the “Rice bowl of Nagaland”, received a major boost in the animal husbandry sector with the inauguration of a scientific slaughterhouse in the centre of the small town on Saturday.
The scientific slaughter house, the first in Nagaland, is the second in entire North-East Region after Guwahati.
The scientific slaughterhouse completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.21 crore is one of the dozen projects of the North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) in Peren district, under the North East Livelihood Promotion Society (NELPS), Ministry of DoNER. NELPS is funded by World Bank.
The slaughter house to be managed by the Peren Pig Producer Compan Ltd., will be selling pork under the brand name ‘Peren Pork.’ The specialty of Peren Pork includes meat from pigs reared by local farmers in their backyards, vaccinated, disease and injury free pigs and clean and hygienic meat. The slaughter house is equipped with latest technology facilities where pigs will be stunned and blood drained before slaughtering.
Advisor, Rural Development, Government of Nagaland, Dr. Nicky Kire, who inaugurated the facility in his address, underscored the need for Nagas to take up pig rearing in a big way. Kire said Nagas cannot do without pork but pointed out that most of the pigs are imported from other states, causing a huge drain to the state’s economy. He also said most of the imported pigs may be disease-infected and reared in unhygienic conditions, which would have negative effects on one’s health.
He said the recent growth in backyard pig rearing in Jalukie and surrounding would go a long way in meeting the demand for pork in local market. Kire also lauded the SHGs, especially women groups, for their hard efforts which are slowly changing the grassroot economy.
He urged the SHGs to share their success stories with SHGs of other districts so that they too can benefit.
Earlier, district project manager, Peren NERLP, Ruuvilie Kotsu, highlighted on the various activities and projects taken up by NERLP since 2012.
Principal secretary, RD, Government of Nagaland, Bendangkokba, chaired the inaugural programme and state project coordinator, M Ringsanbo Zeliang, proposed vote of thanks. Among other invitees and dignitaries, NERLP state coordinators of Sikkim and Mizoram also attended the programme.
NERLP to continue with increased funding
Secretary, North Eastern Council, Ram Muivah, announced that the North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) under North East Livelihood Promotion Society (NELPS), DoNER Ministry, which was launched in 2012, would continue in a different format and nomenclature.
Muivah who is also chairman of NELPS, said in future NERLP would be merged with North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project for Upland Areas (NERCORMP), and fund allocation would be substantially enhanced.
Speaking at the inauguration programme of the scientific slaughter house at Jalukie, the NEC secretary said fund allocation for the new project would be Rs. 3,200 crores, more than triple from the Rs. 900 crore under NERLP.
He also said the new project would cover and benefit all districts of Nagaland. Presently, NERLP covers only Peren and Tuensang districts.
NERLP, a five-year project started in 2012 was extended till 2019 and was supposed to make its exit by September this year.
The announcement of continuation of the project brought much cheer from the gathering SHGs, mostly women groups.
Noting the spurt in agri and allied activities in Peren district and successful implementation and ongoing NERLP project works, Muivah was of the view that Jalukie would soon become the “Economic basket” of Nagaland.
Chief operating officer, NERLP, Guwahati, Paul Lokho, said NERLP in its new avatar would be much bigger in terms of fund and area coverage, and would particularly benefit the rural populace in all districts of Nagaland.
It may be mentioned NERLP was launched with the objective to improve the livelihood, especially that of women, unemployed youth and the most disadvantaged in four NE sates of Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
