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Dimapur, June 2 (EMN): ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun (ICAR-NRCM), Medziphema, celebrated its 33rd foundation day on June 2 through video conferencing. ICAR-NRCM is the only research institute that exclusively works on the Mithun.
Temjen Imna Along, minister of Higher Education and Tribal Affairs, who also attended the programme as the special invitee via video conferencing, virtually inaugurated the newly constructed building of the central instrument facility and Mithun museum at the ICAR-NRC Mithun office.
The minister complimented ICAR-NRCM scientists for their achievements in research and extension activities. He also lauded the efforts of the institute for creating awareness on semi-intensive Mithun farming by promotional video. He also highlighted the importance of ICAR-NRCM in inspiring the Mithun farmers as it provides livelihood security.
He expressed pride to be a “Mithun farmer” and encouraged other farmers to take up Mithun farming. While pointing out that Nagaland forest ecosystem is ideal for the natural habitat of mithun, he expressed confidence that with proper guidance they could surpass Arunachal Pradesh in Mithun population.
He also thanked the institute for providing livelihood opportunities to rural people. In his final remarks, the minister urged the youths to take up entrepreneurship in Mithun and other livestock to stop migration.
The deputy director general (Animal Science) of ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. Bhupendra Nath Tripathi, who chaired the programme, has lauded the contribution of ICAR-NRCM towards 30 % increase in the Mithun population over the previous census. He praised the hard work of the entire ICAR-NRCM for the development of technologies benefiting farmers.
He underlined the fact that Mithun production, being organic, has a remarkable ability to thrive in forests without getting infected with a wide range of pathogens and parasites. He also highlighted the importance of preventing the incidence of FMD and measures to be taken to curtail trans-boundary diseases.
Besides, he urged to evolve technology for vaccinating and deworming the free-range mithuns and take up research on rumen microbiome, improving germplasm, and multiplying the same through assisted reproductive technology. He further suggested collaborating with ICAR-IGFRI for fodder development.
The guest of honour and assistant director general (Animal nutrition and physiology) of ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. Amrish Kumar Tyagi, has highlighted the commercial potential of mithun milk and meat in the fields of functional foods and nutraceuticals. He urged the participants to take up research on rumen microbiome in comparison with other livestock and utilise local tree leaves and dry fodder for preparation of low-cost feed block to benefit farmers.
Dr. Abhijit Mitra, director of ICAR-CIRC, Meerut from UP and the guest of honour pointed out the role of mithun as a meat animal in Northeastern states. He has emphasised on the scope of mithun as organic, functional, and alternative food and urged all the farmers to stop indiscriminate slaughter of well-built large size mithuns but kept for breeding. He further appealed to the youths to explore entrepreneurial opportunities in Mithun farming.
Dr. MH Khan, director of ICAR-NRCM, welcomed all the dignitaries and highlighted the significant achievements of the institute.
On the occasion, directors of several ICAR institutes across India, directors of state animal husbandry and veterinary department from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland, scientists, KVK officials and progressive farmers from Nagaland also participated in the online programme.