Decline in Mithun population as Mithun Festival observed

Temshinaro Porba (Phek), MARCH 28 GOVERNOR Dr. Ashwani Kumar during the Mithun Festival held at Phek, Porba village stated that Mithun being the state animal has various significant roles in the social, cultural, traditional and economic life of people here. He said this recognition was accorded by erstwhile leaders, elders and forefathers who gave the animal a place of prominence. Governor Ashwani said the Mithun festival is only a ceremonial status, but more importantly it also begs the question if enough is being dome to conserve its habitat, protect it from disease, propagate its production and improve its breed. The governor was particularly alarmed over the declining population of the animal. ‘The most worrying aspect about Mithun is its declining population in Nagaland. As per the census of 2003 we had 40,452 Mithuns. In 2007 this number has come down to 33,385. A decline of 17.47% has taken place. We hope that the latest census reveals a much healthier picture,’ said Dr. Ashwani Kumar. The Government of India / ICAR established the National Research Centre on Mithun in Nagaland keeping in view the demand of the hill people of this region. The people of Jharnapani and Porba in the recent years have given several acres of valuable land in constructing laboratories and house for these majestic animals.With Nagaland being a major meat consuming State, Ashwani Kumar stated that the present production of meat is only 63% of the total consumption wherein the remaining meat is imported. There is need to make Nagaland a meat producing State as the state has the capacity and the capability, not only to attain self-sufficiency in meat production but also become a meet exporting State.Farmers and the fertile land is the state’s greatest assets he said and the farmers of Porba/Phek have always taken the lead in adopting the best practices and the most scientific methods in agriculture and animal husbandry with 80.84% population of the district dependent on Agriculture. He stated that it is a matter of pride for us that the Government of India established a Campus of ICAR and Mithun farm at this location. Dr. Ahwani Kumar during the occasion requested Dr. Ayyappan, Secretary DARE & DG, ICAR, on behalf of the people of Nagaland to establish the ongoing process of opening a Veterinary College at the earliest. A paper presented on the occasion by the Porba village council rued that the NRCM ironically does not have a single scientist in the village and Porba which was once set to be the centre was shifted to Jharnapani due to lack of facilities such as schools, hospitals, communication facilities, The Jharnapani centre he stated is an unnatural habitat but where research is now compelled to be carried out. 25 years of the NRCM have only yielded a Mithun farm and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). Apart from this the village council of Porba also drew attention to the lack of basic facilities,schools and inadequate Primary Health Centres (PHC). During the occasion short speeches were given by guest of honor Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary DARE & DG, ICAR and Dr. K.M.L Pathak, DDG (AS) and various cultural dances and folk songs were performed by the villagers. The Mithun Festival and Farmer Fair, 2014 cum inauguration of Administrative Building of Krishi Vigyan Kendra was celebrated with traditional revelry at Phek. However the grand programme of the ‘Mithun Festival’ much like the ‘Hornbill’ Festival left visitors with no sign of the animal. The KVK under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was also inaugurated on the occasion.