Guwahati: In a landmark joint appeal, leading scientists and tribal farmers from India’s Northeast have collectively petitioned the central government to enrol the region’s iconic semi-domesticated bovine, the Mithun (Bos frontalis), under key schemes like the National Livestock Mission (NLM). The move, they contend, is crucial for arresting the species’ declining population and ensuring the sustainable development of mithun farming, which is deeply interwoven with the socio-cultural fabric of the region.
The request was spearheaded by Dr S Girish Patil, Director of the ICAR–National Research Centre on Mithun (NRCM) in Nagaland, in a recent letter to Union Animal Husbandry and Dairying Secretary Alka Upadhyaya. Dr Patil highlighted that despite the animal’s immense ecological, economic, and cultural significance, the Mithun remains conspicuously absent from central livestock development programmes. He argued that its inclusion would catalyse targeted research into breeding, health, and value-added products, while simultaneously creating new livelihood avenues for farmers in the challenging terrains of the Northeast. The NRCM, a premier institution under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has pledged to provide all necessary documentation to facilitate this inclusion.
Echoing this institutional call, the Jomlo Mongku Mithun Farmer Federation from Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang district has also raised its voice, seeking the intervention of state MPs Kiren Rijiju and Tapir Gao. Federation chairman Tadang Tamut expressed serious concerns over the shrinking Mithun population, attributing the decline to indiscriminate slaughter and unscientific farming methods. He pointed out that the exclusion from central schemes has left farmers bereft of essential scientific infrastructure, financial aid, and modern management tools. Tamut passionately stated that the Mithun is more than just livestock; it is a symbol of cultural pride and a lifeline for thousands of tribal families, whose incomes and rural economies stand to benefit immensely from its inclusion in schemes like the NLM.
The significance of the Mithun, the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, has already been officially acknowledged on multiple platforms. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) formally recognised it as a ‘food animal’ from September 1, 2024, a major milestone. Furthermore, it holds a place in the domestic animal diversity information system (DAD-IS) maintained by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome. According to the 2019 livestock census, India is home to 3.9 lakh Mithuns, accounting for 95% of the global population, with Arunachal Pradesh alone housing a staggering 91% of the country’s total count. The animal is deeply integrated into the lives of tribal communities across Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and parts of Assam, serving as a vital source of high-quality meat and milk.
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