15th RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RAC) MEETING OF ICAR-NRC ON MITHUN - 21 September 2022

ICAR-NRC on Mithun conducted its 15th RAC meeting on the 21st of September 2022. The meeting was presided over by the RAC chairman Prof (Dr.) M.R. Sasendranath, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode Wayanad, Kerala, and attended by the RAC members Dr. A. K. Tyagi, ADG (AN & P), ICAR, New Delhi, R.B. Sharma, Extension/Livestock Product Management) Former PS & Former National Coordinator, ICAR, Dr. S.K. Pan, Retd. Professor & Head (Livestock Products Technology & Management), West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, Kolkata, Dr. P.K. Singh, Prof. & Head, AG&B, Khalsa College of Veterinary Science & Animal Sciences, Ram Tirath Road, Amritsar, Dr. A.K Sangwan, Head, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, C. V. Sc, Jalukie, Shri Sambu Siangju (Nominee, Nonofficial), Nafra, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh. and all the scientists and technical officers of the Institute.

The RAC Chairman, Honorable ADG ADG (AP &AN) and all the RAC members have visited the Institute Mithun Farm, and done tree plantation along with interacting with the scientists and technical officers of the Institute. At the RAC meeting, there was an initial welcome address by the Member Secretary of RAC, Dr. Nazrul Haque, and a brief presentation of the Institute with salient achievements by Dr. M.H. Khan, Director of the Institute. Dr. Nazrul Haque also presented the 14th RAC action taken report (ATR), and the committee praised the effort made despite a lack of scientists and technical manpower.

The PIs of various research projects presented their research achievements, future plans of work for discussion and further improvement. The RAC committee has advocated the development of the Mithun farmer’s diary; the creation of a WhatsApp group of Mithun farmer society to inform about advanced mithun husbandry, and the uploading of institute video on the YouTube channel for more visibility of the institute. Development of a catching system for mithun from a free range system may also be developed along with more viable activities to benefit the mithun farmers in the northeastern hilly region of India.