Northeast’s mithun gets ‘food animal’ tag and its meat a leg-up

Source: The post is based on the article “Northeast’s mithun gets ‘food animal’ tag and its meat a leg-up”  published in Indian Express on 21st September 2023

What is the News?

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recognized Mithun as a ‘food animal’.

This will help farmers and tribal village communities as they can now sell mithun meat for commercial purposes.

Until now, mithuns and their meat were sold only for very special occasions such as festivals or weddings.

What is Mithun?

Source: Indian Express

Scientific Name: Bos frontalis

Habitat: Mithun is a ruminant species of the Bovidae family found in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

– It is also the state animal of both Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Characteristics: Mithun is semi-domesticated and is reared in a free-range forest ecosystem.The animal is usually let loose in a community forest and has rarely required shelter or supplementary feeding except for salt. 

– Since the soil in these parts is acidic and low in salt content, mithuns have an affinity for salt and are known to lick it off the hands of the farmers.

Population: As of 2019, there are around 3.9 lakh mithuns in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.

Significance: Mithun is traditionally reserved for special occasions, which has in present times come to also include feasts given by election candidates.

Initiatives: Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched the M-ANITRA app to register mithun farmers as “buyers” and “sellers” with the aim to help them do business at competitive prices.