Kudecho Khamo and others at the brainstorming session on roadmap for diary sector development in Nagaland on February 2 at Porba village. Morung Photo
Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 3
The dairy sector in Nagaland represents an emerging yet underdeveloped segment of the state’s livestock economy.
Milk consumption patterns, population growth, urbanization, and changing dietary preferences have led to a steady increase in demand for milk and dairy products. However, local production remains inadequate, resulting in persistent supply gap that necessitates continuous import of liquid milk and dairy products from outside the state.
This was stated at the brainstorming session on Roadmap for diary sector development in Nagaland, organised by ICAR–National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, and ICAR–Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Phek, in collaboration with ICAR–National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad, Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Nagaland, ICAR–Central Institute for Research on Cattle (CIRC), Meerut and ICAR–National Research Centre on Equine, Hisar, Haryana.
Held at Porba village in Phek district on February 2, the session was also attended by Nagaland’s CAWD & Taxes advisor Kudecho Khamo, several government officials, scientists and stakeholders.
The brainstorming session aims to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue among key stakeholders to identify context-specific constraints and opportunities in the dairy sector of Nagaland.
The program featured technical session with presentations on the current status of the dairy sector in the state, strategies for strengthening dairy cooperatives and approaches for enhancing the dairy value.
The round table discussions focused on development of small, medium and large-scale dairy units suited to the diverse geographical landscapes of the state, including the hilly rural areas, peri-urban regions and the plains,breeding strategies and identification of breeds/genotypes suitable for small, medium and large-scale dairy production systems in the state
It also touched on assessment of available feed and fodder resources and improving the feeding systems to enhance productivity under varied production environments, strengthening veterinary and animal health services, with particular emphasis on dairy animal species, exploration of diversification of milk animal species in the state, with special focus on the dairy potential of Mithun, indigenous Thu-tho cattle, and goats, improving access to institutional credit for small and medium scale dairy farmers and entrepreneurs, identification of challenges related to milk procurement by dairy cooperatives, including issues of pricing and minimum support price mechanisms.
Assessing the scope for organic milk and dairy product production in Nagaland, including identification of production systems, certification requirements, and market linkages, with the objective of targeting premium markets in the region.
The deliberations also touched on development of a policy document that envisions a modern, economically viable and environmentally sustainable dairy sector in Nagaland.
