National Research Center on Mithun (NRCM), Medziphema in collaboration with Government College of Engineering and Leather Technology, Saltlake, Kolkata, West Bengal organized a three- day workshop cum training from February 28 to March 2 on mithun hide processing.
The objective of the programme was to create awareness among the local populace on alternative and better utilization of animal hide/skin.
During the valedictory session, Dr. Chandan Rajkhowa, director, National Research Center on Mithun encouraged the participants to utilize the opportunity at hand and assured all possible technological support in their endeavor.
The workshop cum training programme was attended by farmers/entrepreneurs from different parts of the state.
The programme provided a platform for exchange of ideas and at same time, an opportunity to do processing during the hands on training session.
It may be mentioned here that leather is the hide or skin of an animal that has been processed for human use.
Large animals are said to have hides, while small animals have skins. In either case, the hide or skin is composed of water and proteins and unless preserved, it decays quickly.
The term skin and hide is generally used to denote the outer covering of the animals, whereas leather is used for treated animal skin.
At present in Nagaland, most of the hide/skin is consumed along with the meat which leads to loss of valuable product “leather”, as skin does not have any nutritive value.
Since majority of local inhabitant are non-vegetarian, hundreds of animals are slaughtered everyday.
Recently, the state has constructed semi automated slaughter house at Dimapur with an installed capacity of slaughtering and processing about 1000 units of livestock per day and this unit may supply the needed raw material for the leather processing unit.
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