The Significance of Mithun in the Northeastern Region

The mithun, scientifically known as Bos frontalis, holds its one-of-a-kind place in both the cultural and economic fabric that is a part of the northeastern region of India. The semi-domesticated bovine species, an endogenous creature from the eastern Himalayas, is indeed an integral part of the customs and ways of life of several tribal communities. To mark the importance of this animal, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) established the National Research Centre on Mithun (NRCM) in June 1988 in Nagaland, aiming at funding research and development of this unique species.

Mithun Population Statistics and Cultural Importance

According to the Livestock Census of 2012, India had mithun in a total of 298,264 numbers, with Arunachal Pradesh contributing the highest number of 249,000, Nagaland at 34,871, Manipur at 10,131, and Mizoram at 3,287. In the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, you will find mithuns in the highest numbers. They are also present in other regions like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, albeit in smaller amounts.

In the communities where it has been raised, mithun represents not only wealth but also status and abundance. It is the participating animal in almost all social and cultural ceremonies such as marriages and festivals, including the offering of sacrificial animals to deities. While its meat is considered a delicacy, its hide is utilized in traditional crafts, thereby further attaching it to the social as well as the economic activities of the region.

ICAR’s Initiatives and Achievements in Mithun Development

The ICAR-NRC on Mithun has been a generous provider of help towards mithun husbandry through the implementation of different strategies:

Cluster-Based Approach for Scientific Mithun Production

In May 2023, the ICAR-NRC on Mithun initiated the launching of the cluster-based approach for the development of Mithun through the promotion of right birthing practices in locations in northeastern India. They established a Mithun Conservation Unit in Thopovisu Cluster, Phek district, Nagaland, among others. The initiative also included activities like ear-tagging INAPH tags for mithuns’ identification, foot-and-mouth disease vaccination, health examinations, and blood sample collection for disease screening. In turn, farmers were given technical support to boost their mithun production and productivity.

Mithun Mela-cum-Technology Injection Programmes

The same organization, on February 14, 2024, organized a Mithun Mela-cum-Technology Injection Programme in Loth Village, Lower Subansiri, Arunachal Pradesh. The event was geared toward encouraging hitherto viable mithun farming by bringing farmers, researchers, and government officials together to exchange ideas. There was also an emphasis on the infusion of technology and the dissemination of knowledge aimed at the improvement of mithun breeding in the region.

Field Visits and Mithun Melas

In February 2025, the ICAR-NRC on Mithun conducted field visits and organized a Mithun Mela in Nafra, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh. More than 80 mithuns were vaccinated, ear-tagged, and monitored for growth, and their blood samples were then collected for the next analysis during the field visit. The Mithun Mela gave a meeting point for knowledge exchange and community engagement that, in turn, provided space for talks about scientific mithun rearing practices.

Training and Capacity Building

The ICAR-NRC on Mithun has taken the responsibility to organize training programs for farmers, veterinary field assistants, and other stakeholders. Such programs are designed to inculcate scientific knowledge among the participants and allow them to develop best practices in mithun rearing, health management, and value addition, thus empowering the farming community.

Research and Development

This center has come up with technologies that are friendly to the farmers and packages of practices to promote mithun husbandry to become a sustainable commercial venture. The areas of research, among others, include genetic improvement, reproductive biology, nutrition, health management, and product development. These efforts are intended to improve the productivity and profitability of mithun farming.

Impact on the Farming Community

The initiatives by ICAR-NRC on Mithun have had a pronounced effect on the lives of farmers in the northeast:

• Enhanced Productivity: Due to the intervention of scientific methods, progression has been realized in the growth rates, reproductive performance, and overall health of the mithuns, which in turn has enhanced their productivity.
• Economic Empowerment: Farmers, by embracing new rearing practices and value addition techniques, have become more adept at generating higher income, which in turn has promoted their economic well-being.
• Capacity Building: Training and the many awareness programs have given the farmers the skills and knowledge they require to adopt modern husbandry practices that are central to the sustainability of mithun breeding.
• Conservation of Indigenous Breeds: The conservation and breeding have been instrumental in saving the unique genetic makeup of mithuns, hence contributing to the survival of this indigenous species.

Conclusion

An obvious image of the northeastern region has to be the mithun, which represents the rural economy and is the cultural heritage of the place. The ICAR-NRC on Mithun has put so much of their effort towards the animal’s conservation and scientific management, besides the fact that it has benefited tribal communities whose lives are now improved. Continued research and community engagement will further enhance the future of mithun farming in India.