BPA to aid pig breeding project

An ambitious project called ‘Pig Breeding Project’ is set to take off between the Nagaland government and the British Pig Association (BPA).
Addressing a joint press conference here at Hotel Japfu on Monday, Secretary, Vet & AH, M Yanthan disclosed that the State Government, through the department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, would submit a feasibility report on the Pig Breeding Project to British Pig Association by December this year, and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) by February 2009.
“We hope to get funds from British Pig Association,” Yanthan said.
Chairman, BPA, Robert Overend also indicated that his association might help in the project in Nagaland.
“We are prepared to take share in the business and assure the people that initially we will look at local demand and later the pork should go from here where there is demand,” Overend said.
A press statement issued during the press conference stated that Nagaland Government was keen to improve and increase pig breeding in the state and therefore invited Mr. Robert Overend to visit the state, inspect facilities under the control of the Department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry and private pig fanners.
Accordingly, Overend along with Rana Das of Management Solutions, Business Planning Consultants, arrived Nagaland on an inspection visit.
During the visit, discussions were held on the following: setting up of an artificial insemination unit, establishing a pig breeding farm using imported pigs to produce piglets for sale to private pig growers, crossbreeding of selected local breeds with imported ones, management scheme to preserve the gene pool of local breeds and ensure continuity of local pigs, establishing of a modem slaughterhouse, pork processing & packaging unit feed mill and logistical support for fresh and processed meat distribution within and outside the state.
Overend, an acknowledged pedigree pig breeder for the last fifty years, said he was interested in taking an equity position in the pig breeding project and also managing the project for an agreed period of time. During the management period, training and installing “best practices’ would form an integral part of the arrangement.
The joint team visited the pig breeding farms at Medziphema and private pig farms at Medziphema, Zubza and Rusoma.