– NET Web Desk
Assam Veterinary Minister Atul Bora launched the ambitious Bodoland Pig Mission at Bodofa Cultural Complex, Kokrajhar today. The Pig Mission aims to make the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) a piggery hub of the region. The mission aims to produce one lakh kg of pork per day.
The ambitious Bodoland Pig Mission is aimed at making the Bodoland Territorial Region a piggery hub by transforming traditional livelihood of thousands of households into sustainable economic activity.
Under the mission, a target of producing 1 lakh kg pork per day has been set. pic.twitter.com/ROG1lkomH0
— Atul Bora (@ATULBORA2) September 11, 2021
A slew of measures like pig breeding facilities, supply of cost-effective & quality feed, veterinary care, skill enhancement and farmer registration, insurance has been envisaged under this ambitious programme.
BTR chief Pramod Boro who was present at the launch called it a ‘significant move’ towards making ‘Assam self-sufficient in pork production by making BTR ‘the piggery hub of India’.
Delighted on the launch of 'Bodoland Pig Mission' today at Bodofa Cultural Complex, Kokrajhar.
This is undoubtedly a significant move towards the vision of HCM @himantabiswa of making Assam self-sufficient in Pork Production by making BTR 'the piggery hub of India'. pic.twitter.com/4p9BrneF6z
— Pramod Boro (@PramodBoroBTR) September 11, 2021
The state veterinary minister also informed that the mission will cover thirty thousand households in different capacities.
In recent times the Assam Government is trying to rebuild the piggery sector which was ravaged by the African Swine Fever(ASF) in the last few years. Scores of pig farmers had to close their businesses unable to bear ASF-induced losses.
Although rearing and consumption of pig and pork items are quite extensive in Assam and the Northeast, the region is yet to be self-sufficient to cater to its ever-increasing demand. According to reports piggeries of Punjab and Haryana have already stepped in to fill the demand and supply gap of pork in the Northeast making profits worth hundreds of crores.
Rearing and consumption of pig have always been a traditional affair of many indigenous communities of Assam and the Northeast, Bodos being one of them. It would be interesting to watch the extent of the mission’s success in transforming consumption-based rearing of pigs to a market-oriented one.
