From our Correspondent

DIMAPUR, July 29: National Research Centre on Mithun (NRC on Mithun), Jharnapani, celebrated Institute Industry Day on July 27 last with the aim to promote entrepreneurs to take up Mithun (bos frontalis) farming on commercial scale as the animal has the potential to provide gainful employment opportunity.

NRC on Mithun Jharnapani Programme Coordinator, KVK Phek, RK Singh in a press release said that a brainstorming session was organized on Scope of Entrepreneurship in Mithun Farming as part of the celebration.

B Thawang, Secretary, Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Government of Nagaland, who was the chief guest on the occasion was of the opinion that unemployed youths should take up entrepreneurship in this sector (Mithun farming). Thawang said that the technologies developed through research and development activities of the institutes like NRC on Mithun and other ICAR institutes would help the entrepreneurs to take up some meaningful and remunerative ventures.

Emphasizing the need for commercialization of Mithun farming, the V&AH secretary said that the State Government can also give logistic support.

Director, NRCM Jharnapani, Dr Chandan Rajkhowa, welcomed the guests and explained the rationale for celebrating Institute Industry Day. He highlighted the socio-economic importance of Mithun and emphasized that Mithun breeders should not concentrate on rearing the Mithun only for meat but should also explore other avenues like milk and leather products to have better income generation.

Joint Director, ICAR (RC) for NEH Nagaland center, Dr BC Deka, explained the scope, importance, constraints and remedies in agri and allied sectors. He emphasized mainly on industrialization to uplift the socio-economic lives of rural people of Nagaland. He also highlighted about the opportunities available in seed production sector as state imports about 40 per cent of its cereals seeds and almost entire vegetable seed is also imported from other states.

Joseph Angami CEO, KOMUL, said that looking into the composition of Mithun’s milk, it has great opportunity in processing sector.

Director of Industries & Commerce, Government of Nagaland, Er Thekruneituo Kire, pointed out that good numbers of animals are slaughtered everyday in the State and there is opportunity in leather sector, but due to absence of modern abattoir and food behaviour of the Naga people, there is scarcity of hide for leather industry.

Apart from tanning industry the NE region has great scope for utilizing slaughterhouse products for producing blood meal, bone meal and other related products. Kire also said that to attract unemployed youths and individuals to start entrepreneurship in these sectors, the government is giving 30 per cent capital subsidy and 3 per cent subsidy on working capital.

Participants from School of Agricultural Sciences & Rural Development (SASRD) Medziphema, Nagaland University and scientists from NRC on Mithun presented different technologies available and how they can be commercially exploited.