AALO, 25 Aug: A 'Mithun mela-cum-health camp and Siangmi breed awareness camp' was held at Kunu Yami village in Kamba ADC circle of West Siang district on Tuesday.
The programme was attended by IT & e-Governance Chairman Nyamar Karbak, Arunachal Pradesh State Food Commission Chairman Tarh Tarak, and West Siang DC Mindo Loyi, among others.
The dignitaries first visited the mithun farms in Kamba, Kato and Kunu Yami villages, where more than 120 mithuns were showcased. The programme was organised by the Arunachal Mithun Farmers Federation, in collaboration with TAMFWA, with the objective of promoting mithun farming, creating awareness about the Siangmi breed, and encouraging scientific management and conservation of mithun.
Welcoming the dignitaries and participants, Yomli Geyi highlighted the importance of organising the mithun mela for the benefit of mithun farmers and for preserving the traditional significance of mithun in the socio-cultural life of the people.
West Siang DVO Yani Ngomdir advised mithun farmers to ensure timely vaccination and proper animal healthcare. He also apprised the gathering of various government schemes and programmes available for the welfare and development of mithun farmers.
The DC in his address urged the people of West Siang to continue strengthening the traditional 'lura system', which plays an important role in the social and cultural practices associated with mithun.
Arunachal Pradesh State Food Commission member Maji Chokar informed that the government is working towards better planning and support mechanisms for mithun farmers. He also appealed to the Arunachal Mithun Farmers Federation to extend its activities to other districts of Arunachal, so that more farmers and communities can benefit from such mithun melas and related initiatives.
Karbak in his address expressed the view that "the initiative should be expanded into a pan-Arunachal programme." He also emphasised the need to discourage indiscriminate sacrifice of mithuns, and encouraged farmers to adopt scientific and sustainable mithun farming practices.
He further appealed to the mithun farmers to increase the number of mithuns showcased in future editions of the event, and to collectively work towards strengthening mithun farming in the state.
Retired deputy commissioner and APARC member Hento Karga, Kamba ADC Ejum Angu, and scientists from the National Research Centre on Mithun, Nagaland, also addressed the gathering and shared valuable insights on mithun breeding, health management, conservation and scientific rearing practices.
The event witnessed the participation of mithun farmers from Siang district, members of the public from West Siang, and senior citizens, reflecting the growing interest in the conservation and promotion of mithun farming and the Siangmi breed.
The programme concluded with a renewed call for collective efforts towards the conservation, scientific management and sustainable development of mithun farming in Arunachal. (DIPRO)
