ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun organises Mithun Mela in Arunachal Pradesh

DIMAPUR — The ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun (ICAR-NRCM), Medziphema, in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary of Siang district and Jomlo Mongku Mithun Farmer Federation (JMMFF), organised a Mithun Mela on July 26 in Mori village under Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

An update from ICAR-NRCM stated that the mela served as an interactive platform where farmers, scientists and officials discussed sustainable Mithun farming practices through scientific interventions.

The Deputy Commissioner of Siang, PN Thungon, who inaugurated the event, highlighted the socio-cultural and economic significance of Mithun among tribal communities and urged the farmers to adopt improved husbandry methods while conserving natural habitats.

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The director of ICAR-NRCM, Dr. Girish Patil S, spoke on key challenges faced by Mithun farmers, including habitat degradation, diseases and market access, stressing the importance of scientific breeding and health management practices, while Dr. Losang Wangchu, head of ICAR Regional Centre, Basar, delivered a technical talk on integrating traditional practices with modern techniques for sustainable Mithun farming.

During the event, a traditional Lura practice was showcased, where Mithuns are communally collected by the Galo and Adi tribes. It stated that the indigenous system involves collective efforts by farmers to construct fencing and protect agricultural lands from Mithun grazing, reflecting a community-driven approach to resource management and livestock stewardship.

It stated that a cultural performance was presented by the Mori youth group, celebrating the deep-rooted cultural ties with Mithun.

Besides, a farmer-scientist interaction session was held on predator attacks, disease management, veterinary service gaps and market challenges, where the ICAR-NRCM scientists offered on-the-spot advisories and promised continued support.

After the mela, the ICAR-NRCM team visited Yaki Tato village and held a meeting with the farmers and also conducted documenting phenotypic traits of Mithuns to support genetic characterisation, selective breeding and conservation.

It further stated that the event witnessed the participation of over 500 Mithun farmers, including women and youth from across Siang district.