ICAR-NRC popularizes Semi-Intensive Rearing of Mithun

Mithun farmers and others during the first-ever review meeting of Semi-Intensive Mithun Rearing Units conducted by ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema on February 6 and 7.
 

Medziphema, February 9 (MExN): The first-ever review meeting of Semi-Intensive Mithun Rearing Units established under Tribal Sub Plan was conducted by ICAR-NRC on Mithun, Medziphema on February 6 and 7.

“The idea of the meeting was to have interfacing between the Mithun farmers of different states as well as with the scientists and other stakeholders and to find a way forward,” stated a press release received here. 

The meeting was attended by 59 Mithun farmers from 22 villages of three Mithun rearing States of North East India viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur.

It may be mentioned that Mithun, though completely domesticated, are traditionally reared under a  free-range forest ecosystem where animals are let loose in the forest and they survive at the sole mercy of nature by grazing on natural vegetation. Such a traditional system of rearing does not allow the implementation of any scientific interventions and farmers often incur losses due to the death of animals, particularly young ones, by the attack of predatory animals.

ICAR-NRC on Mithun has taken an initiative to popularize the alternative package of practices of Semi-Intensive Mithun rearing developed by the Institute among the mithun farmers and other stakeholders in the region. During the last five years, under Tribal Sub Plan programme, the institute has distributed input materials to Mithun farmers in the Northeast Region for adopting Semi-Intensive Rearing of Mithun. 

In the morning, the participants visited Institute’s Mithun Farm to witness the regular farm activities such as milking, semen collection from bull using electro-ejaculation machine, artificial insemination, animal identification techniques, feeding practices etc. Mithun milk was offered to the participants which was a new experience as milking is not practiced by the mithun farmers under free-range rearing system. It was followed by a day-long interactive session in the Conference Hall. 

Farmers from each village made a poster presentation and apprised the house about their experience. Scientists of the Institute and the participants exchanged their views for the way forward to the development of mithun husbandry practices during the day-long interaction.

The Director of the Institute, Dr Abhijit Mitra, emphasized the advantages of Semi-Intensive Mithun rearing and urged the farmer’s participation for implementing scientific knowledge in their field. Sahoo, Deputy GM, NABARD, Dimapur and officials from State Bank of India, Medziphema also deliberated upon the Central Government Schemes for Farmers’ Welfare. 

The programme ended with the visit to the demonstration farm of ICAR Research Complex, Nagaland Centre, Medziphema on February 7. The programme was coordinated by Dr Sapunü Stephen Hanah, Scientist and Dr Kobu Khate, Chief technical Officer.