Manipuri Pony-tourism link under discussion: Khashim
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 09 2022: Veterinary and Animal Husbandry minister Khashim Vashum has assured of looking into the potential usage of Manipuri pony in the tourism sector and also help in its conservation.

Addressing a press meet held at his office in Old Secretariat here on Tuesday, minister Khashim said that Manipuri Pony has a long relationship with the state s history.

The world knows that the game of Polo, which is played riding Ponies, first originated in Manipur, and as such, the government considers the importance of preserving the indigenous pony breed.

He informed that as per the instruction of Chief Minister N Biren, stray and abandoned horses including ponies in the state have been rescued and are being kept at Heingang and Lamphel.

Most of the horse owners in the state are unable to take care of their animals due to poor financial backgrounds.

Additionally, rearing of horse does not generate income.

The animals cannot be used for milk production.

Khashim continued: "As per government records, there are a total of only 1046 ponies in the state.

Thus, steps will be taken to assess whether the ponies could be utilised by Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department in consultation with the Tourism Department for tourism related activities.

As of now, discussion is being held to use ponies-drawn carriages so as to earn revenue from tourists in the upcoming Sangai festival and also in different tourist spots of the state.

Thus, there is the need for horse owners to keep a clean bill of health of their animals, and the owners could seek the help of the doctors and held assistants to settle the case.

People can contact him (minister Khashim) if anyone is found not cooperating with the Rules, the minister said.

The minister then stated that several pigs have died on August 2 after contracting African Swine fever in different places.

He added that the department has been trying to keep the epidemic under control including ban on sale/buying of pork meat.

However, no reports have been submitted regarding death of pigs.

The department has even formed a committee in this regard and the ban will be withdrawn within the month or by first week of September.

Recounting the Governor's and the CM's statements in the recent Shirui Festival for conservation of Ukhrul's indigenous canine breed, Haofa; the minister informed that the breed had been jabbed with the anti-rabies vaccine and the department is making efforts to prevent any crossbreeding with other breeds and keep its genetics as pure as possible.

Further informing that the process has started for opening of slaughter houses in some of the districts to prevent sale/buying of meat from unhygienic shops/locations, Khashim stated that some suitable sites have been identified in almost all of the districts except for Imphal East district.

Imphal East district is inhabited by different communities and as such, the location should be decided after consultation with the locals.

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