Nagaland Minister Call for Self Sufficiency in Meat Production

INDIA - In order to meet growing requirement of meat in the state, Nagaland minister for planning and coordination, T.R. Zeliang has called upon livestock farmers and entrepreneurs to unite and strive for self sufficiency of meat requirement in the state by 2020.
calendar icon 13 May 2014
clock icon 3 minute read

Speaking at the two day state level programme on promotion of pig based integrated farming system at IMC Hall Dimapur, Nagaland on April 24, 2014, Zeliang said: “Large amount of money is being spent every year by us for importing meat and meat products, especially pork, from outside the state, which need to be brought down to zero level.”

This can be done by implementing piggery, poultry and goatery schemes in the state and bringing marginal and commercial livestock farmers under one fold, the minister said.

During the eleventh plan period (2007 to 2011), Nagaland state government managed to cut down import rate of meat from 63.10 per cent to 36.90 per cent.

As per the sample survey report of the veterinary department, state has spent close to $45 million in the last 15 years that needs to come down.

As per the 2013-14 sample survey report of the veterinary department, internal domestic production has recorded an increase to 67.48 tonnes, which is valued at $119 million.

The state import of animal husbandry product has come down from 338.2 tonnes to 17.10 tonnes, which is valued at $17.83 million, which needs to be reduced to zero, the minister stressed.

In order to meet this challenge effort of the government and the farmers alone is not enough. It will require the concerted efforts of all agri and allied departments and other private agency and non-government organisations (NGOs), he said.

With pork demands increasing globally, the minister said that Nagaland can become a net exporter of meat due to country’s economic liberalization policy.

The minister also saod that people of the should go one step ahead and even patent their own pork under the brand name Naga Pork, rearing animals is an integral part of every Naga household.

He also said that pork production cannot be increased only through traditional and primitive methods of backyard rearing; only through scientific approaches can meet the demand of commercial purposes.

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