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R Khing spaeking at the foundation day of Icar-NRCM on June 2 at Medziphema.[/caption]
Dimapur, June 2 (EMN): The ICAR-NRC on Mithun (NRCM), Medziphema, observed 30 years of its existence on June 2 at Medziphema campus.
Advisor for Veterinary and Animal Husbandry R Khing, who presided over the celebration programme, congratulated the staffs and scientists of ICAR-NRCM for the journey of 30 years.
Khing said that mithun is not only considered a pride of the tribals but it plays an important role in the social, cultural and economic life of the local tribal population. He applauded the efforts of the institute for the dissemination of technologies among the farmers of NE hilly states.
Former director of the institute, Dr. Chandan Rajkhowa, attended the programme as guest of honour. In his speech he recalled his association with the establishment and said that mithun farming plays a great role in the economic uplift and economic relief to the poor farmers at the time of exigencies.
The principal secretary of V&AH, MK Mero, stressed on the improvement of mithun husbandry through the support of banking schemes. He assured full support of his department towards the development of mithun farming. He also raised his concern about the shrinking forest cover in the region which is adversely affecting mithun rearing in the region and advocated the synergistic approach in mithun husbandry and forest conservation.
Director ICAR-NRCM Dr. Abhijit Mitra, welcomed the gathering and presented an overview of 30 years of the journey. He apprised the house about the recent initiatives of the institute in registering mithun as a food animal under FSSAI, developing a bankable scheme for mithun husbandry and popularizing semi-intensive mithun rearing.
Besides other progressive farmers, 55 mithun farmers from the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur also attended the programme.
On the occasion, a mobile app - “Mithun Mitra” (friend of mithun), developed in collaboration with ICAR-IVRI, was also launched. The app will be further upgraded to include features like framers’ registration and interactive modules, the press release informed.
