NRC Medziphema farm boasts ‘mightiest’ Mithun weighing 655 kg

October 24, 2022 60 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 24

Mithun Farm located at Medziphema in Nagaland boast the mightiest Mithun weighing 655 kg, aged around 12 years and 2 months.

At present, there are 105 Mithun at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Research Centre(NRC) on Mithun, Medziphema.

During a visit to the farm during the 35th Foundation day of the Centre on October 15 last, Nagaland’s Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Neiba Kronu had expressed satisfaction over the upkeep of the farm.

Mithun cost up to Rs. 1 lakh
Meanwhile, Mithun is a valued animal in the life of the tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.It is believed to be the symbolic representative of peace and communal harmony.

For the same reason, the ‘Solung’ festival is observed annually by the Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh to commensurate the birth and arrival of Mithun on this earth.

Mithun is an indication of social status in which the richness of a person in the society is counted in terms of the number of Mithuns possessed, according to a pamphlet published by ICAR- NRC on Mithun.

In Nagaland, Mithun is sacrificed at the ‘Feast of Merit,’ a series of gradual feasts carried out over a period of several years.

This permits a man to advance in social and economic position and raises his status in the society and ownership of Mithun confers prestige. “It is also used for payment of fine for social and legal obligations. The animal figures in system of exchange and for some groups it is a notable item of trade,” the pamphlet stated.

The average cost of an adult male Mithun may vary from Rs 60,000-80,000 and may sometimes go up to Rs. 1 lakh. Many a time, it is also used to pay the bridal price.

In some parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Mithun milking is done to fulfill the dairy requirement.

But in the other NE states, milking of mithun is hardly practiced with majority of the owners having little knowledge about the milk production potential of the animal.

Scope and potential
Mithun could be an essential component of the sustainable animal production system of the region. They are of enormous economic and social importance in the life of the people of the region.

“This animal can be exploited and developed as very good meat animals besides improvement of their milk production potentiality,” the pamphlet stated.

Higher butter fat percentage (8-10%) of milk provides avenues for production of value added milk products to fetch high price.

Good quality leather can also be processed from mithun hide, the pamphlets added.

“Conservation and preservation of this unique species is therefore of primary importance as it is being threatened due to inbreeding, inter-species breeding with cattle and indiscriminate destruction of the habitat,” it stated.

ICAR established the NRC on Mithun in Medziphema = to undertake systematic studies on its scientific husbandry, breeding and its diversified uses.

The highest concentration of mithuns in the world is spread over North-East India, while also found in some parts of Southeast Asia- Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan.

Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/nrc-medziphema-farm-boasts-mightiest-mithun-weighing-655-kg