Policy dialogue on ‘towards framing a pig breeding policy for Nagaland’

Policy dialogue on “towards framing a pig breeding policy for Nagaland” organized by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)  and North East Development Agency (NEIDA) and initiated by Ratan and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust was held at Nagaland Bamboo Resource Development Agency conference hall, 6th mile, Monday.
NEIDA said various studies conducted in Nagaland reported that pigs currently available in the state are the result of haphazard breeding within and between various breeds. It sad study conducted by the ILRI, as part of Tata supported piggery development programme found that the crossbred pigs in Nagaland do not perform well even under optimum feed situations.
It was noted that a scientific way of assessing the profile of existing breeds, correlating them with production performance and identifying the right breed(s) for Nagaland was required to address haphazard breeding issue and to develop pig breeds/cross breeds that are appropriate, adaptable and productive in the smallholder context in Nagaland.
In this context, the policy dialogue was organized to discuss about the findings of a participatory breed mapping exercise and review of existing pig breeding policies of the country recently carried out by ILRI and to deliberate upon framing a breeding policy for the state of Nagaland.
Speaking at the conference, secretary and commissioner, department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Thangi Mannen admitted that for long the department has been trying to develop piggery industry in the state without utilizing scientific methods and technologies with no positive result. She lamented that the state government, in the past, have been neglecting the development of piggery in the state despite high demand. However, Mannen informed that State government has already taken cabinet decision to develop a breeding policy for the state.
She said the recommendations of Monday’s workshop would form the basis for the pig breeding policy, which will be submitted to the cabinet for approval.
The secretary and commissioner said in this regard, an expert committee would be formed to develop a technical programme to implement the policy effectively.
Mannen also assured the full support of the department to the recommendations that could come out of the policy meet, which she said would be beneficial for the farmers in the state.
Talking about the policy to be implemented, she said it was purely contributed by Tata Trust and added that intensive training and awareness programmes would be conducted not only for farmers but at the department level as well.
Deliberating on the need to encourage farmers to take up pig farming to enhance state economy, Mannen observed that unless the department was able to guide the farmers or stakeholders, cross breeds would not increase in the State. Director NBAGR/ICAR, Delhi Dr. Arjava Sharma said Nagaland was rich in livestock biodiversity and this should be conserved judiciously through sustainable utilization for the welfare of mankind.
Sharma while presenting the evaluation report of piggery breeding farms in Nagaland during 1982-83, said the objective the policy was to upgrade the local or indigenous pig population of the state through cross breeding them with exotic breeds of pigs so as to enhance their production potentials and to supply exotic male and female piglets to the farmers for up gradation of their local pigs to boost up pork production in the state.
Presentations on pig breeds, breeding and supply and demand of breeding materials findings of participatory breed mapping in Nagaland and review of pig breeding policies in Northeast and Indian states and draft recommendation for pig breeding policy for Nagaland were presented by Dr. Huyen from National institute of Animal Sciences, Vietnam and Dr. Ram Deka (ILRI) and principal scientist NTC (Pig)/ ICAR Dr. Santanu Banik.
Special input was presented by principal NRCP Rani, GuwahatiDr. M.K. and Dr. Dhireswar professor Animal genetics & breeding, AAu, Guwahati Kalita Tamuli followed by group work, feedbacks and recommendations.
At the end of the extensive deliberation, the workshop came out with a draft pig breeding policy recommendations to be submitted to the government.
Keynote addresses were delivered by director NBAGR/ICAR Dr. Arjava Sharma, ILRI South Asia head Dr. Alok Jha and director veterinary & Animal Husbandry Dr. R. Thungchamo Ezung. Introductory note for sessions was delivered by deputy director Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Dr. Simon Ao while TATA-ILRI partnership programme overview was presented by V.Padmakumar.
The programme was attended by officials, policy makers, international and non-governmental organizations, private sectors, donor, development agencies and stakeholders.