There is a lack of special thrust and investment on Mithun farming as a source of income as compared to other domesticated livestock, principal investigator and head of the state Animal Sciences department, Th Ranadhir Singh said.
"There is also lack of awareness on the part of Mithun farmers on scientific Mithun rearing as well as to conserve the dwindling speciesm," the head of the Animal Sciences said at a one-day training programme on ‘Scientific Mithun Husbandry Practices’ held at Louphong village, Kamjong district, Manipur on Friday.
The head of the Animal Sciences department stated that in Manipur, the population of the breed dropped to 9,059 in 2019 from 10,131 in 2012 signalling an imminent threat to its existence. To address the issue, a Mithun rearing centre is being established at Louphong in Kamjong district, Manipur under the project.
The programme is a part of the North-Eastern Council (NEC), DoNER Ministry-funded project titled ‘Mithun Conservation in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur’. It was organised by the department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Imphal and the Directorate of Research, Central Agricultural University (CAU).
During the programme, veterinary officer, Ukhrul and Kamjong district, P Ajesh Singh spoke on the topic, ‘Shelter and Feeding Requirements of Mithun in their Natural Habitat’.
Former joint director, veterinary and animal husbandry, government of Manipur, K Rashbihari Singh on ‘Prevention and Control of Mithun Diseases’ and Th Ranadhir Singh on ‘Scope of Mithun Farming in Manipur’ and ‘Selection and Breeding of Mithun for Sustainable Mithun Production’.
It may be recalled that an MoU between CAU, Imphal and Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS) on Mithun Conservation and Breeding and Agricultural Activities in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur was signed by former vice chancellor, CAU M Premjit Singh with Atom Sunil Singh and Mingthing Mung from AIMS on July 16, 2020. About 60 persons participated in the training programme.
