Nagaland Targets Self Sufficiency in Meat Production

Kohima, Jul 29 : The Nagaland government has set the target of becoming the first state in the country to become self-sufficient in meat production by 2020.

Under the policy, Animal protein for all: Securing food basket through sustainable livestock and poultry farming, the department of veterinary and animal husbandry has taken up ambitious schemes by involving cross-sections of people, including the HIV-infected and the physically challenged.

State government officials said by 2020, Nagaland was expected to export meat to other parts of the country and also to South East Asia.

At present, the state imports Rs 220-crore worth of meat annually but officials of the veterinary and animal husbandry department are hopeful that this would come down drastically as all efforts are being made to increase meat production.

Senior technical assistant Z. Mekro said the department would soon sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the German company, Pig Dutchman, to start modern slaughtering houses and pig-breeding farms in the state through public private partnership (PPP).

The detail project report has been sent to the Planning Commission with a projected cost of Rs 1,180 crore.

At present, Nagaland imports Rs 93.726 crore worth of pork, beef worth Rs 23.241 crore, chicken worth Rs 28.575 crore, dog and goat worth Rs 7.62 crore, milk (powder milk and baby food) worth Rs 64.162 crore and eggs worth Rs 3.525 crore. Nagaland also imports cattle and buffalos from Myanmar.

The state’s internal monetary value in terms of internal production of meat, milk and egg is Rs. 637.71 crore, which contributed around 20 per cent to the state’s revenue earning.

“During the eleventh five year plan, the department is focusing on development of piggery and poultry for meat production and infusion of superior germplasm of dairy cattle for milk production to narrow the gap between the demand and supply of animal husbandry products,” Mekro told this correspondent.

He said Nagaland produces the best pork in the country and rural piggery, poultry and dairy are being taken up in the form of backyard farming in rural areas.

The state government has also initiated the process of setting up a veterinary college at Jalukie, 100km from Kohima, to promote veterinary practice and to enhance production of meat.