From Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI: The deficiencies in the supply of pork, the main food of many Meghalayans might come to an end with one Canadian firm willing to supply much needed female pigs and frozen semen of its boars, but much depends on the Centre which has put a ban on such import to the Northeast.
With a large population in the Northeast eating pork, a Canadian firm wants to export female pigs and frozen semen from purebred boars to the region to meet the high demand.
The firm is already exporting high performance semen in frozen form to farms in Punjab and Haryana and looking towards similar demand in the Northeast region, official sources said.
Supply of pork meat is facing serious problem in the hill state for a strange reason- deterioration of the genetic stock of the source animals- cows and pigs. Meghalaya consumes about 300 pigs daily and faces a 30 per cent deficit in supply.
On top of it, Meghalaya Government cannot get fresh stock usually from United States and European countries because of the ongoing ban on import of the stock on cattle.
The farm intends to ascertain the overall situation of pig farming in Northeastern states, organisation skills and skills of veterinary departments of each State. Among other countries, which the firm is currently, helping in improving piggery farming includes neighbouring China while supplying live pigs for breeding to Korea, Vietnam and central American countries.
Commenting on the issue Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Lanong,said that the genetic value of present stock has been deterotiated . He requested the Government to lift the ban so that the state can get fresh livestock.
The last import of cows and pigs was more than a decade and half ago, he pointed out.
The Government is also trying to increase number of pigs in the state through more pig breeding centres, Mr Lanlong said. Pig is the main source of meat for the people in social celebrations and even day to day diet, he said.