Recognition yearned for local breed of swine
Source: The Sangai Express / Ng Liklaileima Arambam

Imphal, August 31 2022: Many livestock farmers in Manipur have expressed desire for the Government to recognise the local breed of swine (Ock Amubi literally translating into Black Pig) and implement welfare programmes for people engaged in pig rearing.

Though generations of people have been rearing the locally available swine, the same is not yet recognised by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, Haryana.

Due to this non recognition, no developmental programmes such as establishment of breeding farms have been taken up by any agency to promote the local breed of swine.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Yengkhom Biswajit, a resident of Haribokching in Langthabal, said that he has been rearing pigs as a full time profession since the last 25 years or so.

He said that the local breed of swine is comparatively healthier and its meats are also popular among the people.

Biswajit expressed desire for the Government to preserve the local breed of swine by taking up certain welfare programmes, Another pig farmer from Andro, Phanjoubam Ajaysana said that rearing the local breed of pig for commercial purposes in Manipur started decades back.

Saying that he hadn't taken part in any training programme on pig rearing, Ajaysana said that the pigs he rear are all healthy as they are vaccinated regularly and given healthy feeds.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Professor Th Ranadhir of Department of Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (CAU), said that many people have been rearing the local breed of swine since the last many decades successfully.

"However, due to lack of research, this breed of swine is not yet recognised by the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources," he said .

Saying that the local breed of swine fulfils all the criteria to be recognised as an indigenous breed, Th Ranadhir informed that the Department of Animal Husbandry, CAU has completed a research programme for characterisation of the local breed of swine.

He also said that the Department has already submitted the finding of the research works to the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources to recognise the local breed of swine.

The Professor also exuded confidence that the Bureau would surely recognise the local breed of pig.

Continuing that the local breed of pig is more healthy than imported breeds of swine and is easier to raise, Th Ranadhir said that the local breed of pig can also be reared without any scientific knowledge.

Saying that the local breed of pig is unique and it would be included in the livestock census which is conducted every five year once the breed is recognised by the Government, the Professor said that inclusion in the census exercise would make it easier for the Government to promote the local breed of swine.

Further stating that a sow (female swine) can give birth to 7 to 12 piglets at a time, he added that establishment of a State owned breeding centre would be beneficial to the farmers.

He also said that breeds of pigs found in other North East States such as Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam and Meghalaya have already been recognised and these States have taken up certain pig development projects and policies.

The news story is written under Media Fellowship Programme of Public Relation and Media Management Cell, CAU on Scientific Journalism in Application of Science in Agriculture.

For further information, one may contact Dr Indira Thounaojam through [email protected] .

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