Dairy Farming in Nagaland An Emerging Enterprise

Abstract

The challenges faced by North Eastern India in general and Nagaland in particular for food and nutritional security to fast growing population needs an integrated approach for livestock farming. With increasing population, income and urbanization, demand for animal proteins has increased. In India, there has been a significant increase in the milk production in the last few decades. India ranks first in the World in the total milk production. However, there is large variation across the region in the milk production as well as consumption. This is due to many factors including food habits of the people which develop over a period of time. Also, as economy develops, people tend to consume more livestock products and therefore, lead to shift in food habit. This particular argument probably stands for lack of development of dairy in North Eastern region in particular. Nagas are known to eat highest amount of animal protein in the form of meat. However, availability of meat is a major issue due to multiple factors. Nagaland imports maximum numbers of pig for consumption. Pig population in India as well as in Nagaland is decreasing and there is reports of African Swine Fever in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. This will further lead to shortage of meat in Nagaland.