Experts from Canada and India discuss latest developments in India’s pig sub-sector
A woman feeds her pigs in Nagaland, India (photo credit: ILRI/Stevie Mann).
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works with various partner organizations in northeast India on research-for-development activities aimed at improving the smallholder pig sub-sector in the region. This has been possible through a long-term Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) signed in 2004.
These research activities were recently showcased at a one-day roundtable seminar held on 3 June 2017 at the ICAR National Research Centre on Pig (NRCP) in the northeast Indian state of Assam. The seminar was organized by the Canadian High Commission in India in collaboration with NRCP, the Indian Chamber of Commerce and the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The event brought together researchers, industry stakeholders, government officials from different states in India, particularly from the northeast region, and representatives from ICAR and the Canadian High Commission to discuss the current status of India’s pig sub-sector, share information on the latest local and international developments in pig production and encourage collaboration and sharing of knowledge across the two countries.
ILRI scientist Ram Pratim Deka gave a special address on the institute’s pig-related research activities implemented in northeast India to date, namely:
- Pig appraisal studies in the states of Assam and Nagaland
- National agricultural innovation projects in the state of Nagaland
- Enhancing Livelihoods through Livestock Knowledge System project in the states of Nagaland and Mizoram
- Pig nutrition pilot project
- Livestock service provider model for delivery of minor veterinary services
- Analysis of hazards in raw pork sold in wet markets
- Epidemiological study and policy initiative on classical swine fever
- Framing of Nagaland’s pig breeding policy
- Technical support for rolling out pig breeding policy and artificial insemination in pigs
Among the other topics discussed during the seminar were principles of biosecurity, nutrition, emerging pig diseases, breeding, genetics and disease control.
View the presentation, Brief overview of ILRI’s activities in Northeast India on pig system development
