Success story of Pig Breeding Unit in Marngar Cluster, Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya

Shri Mrinal Sohkhwai (34 years), an unemployed youth from Borkhatsari Village, Marngar Cluster, Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya and his family depended mainly on agriculture as a source of income. They used to grow crops like paddy, vegetables, spices (turmeric, ginger, black pepper) and rear local Pigs for the fattening purposes. Before the intervention of ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region, Umiam, he used to rear local Pigs for fattening purposes. The production potential of local indigenous Pigs is very low in terms of growth rate and litter size. Thus, to increase the production potential of indigenous Pigs, the improved breeds of Piglets (Hampshire x Local Khasi) are introduced by ICAR-RC on NEH Region, Umiam under Farmers FIRST programme.

To reduce the feed cost, in addition to the concentrate Pig feed, he also provides homemade feed. He prepares feed for Pigs at home with locally available vegetables, colocasia leaves and stems, banana pseudostems, rice bran, wheat bran, kitchen waste, etc. All the ingredients are mixed together, cooked and cooled before feeding to the Pigs. He has developed a paddock in front of the Pig sty with the locally available bamboo for free movement of growing Piglets during the daytime. The good hygiene and sanitation is also maintained in his Pig farm to keep the animals free from diseases.

Shri Sohkhwai attended a 3-day Training Programme for Artificial Insemination (A.I.) in Pigs at the ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig, Guwahati, Assam. After the Paravet Training, he has learned to do A.I. by himself and is able to do it in Pigs of his own Breeding Unit and also Pigs of other villages through which he receives an extra income of Rs. 1,500/- per insemination. Till date, he has inseminated 17 Female Pigs.

Development of Pig Breeding Unit by Shri Mrinal Sohkhwai at Borkhatsari Village

The litter size and growth rate of local indigenous Pigs are very less. The improved breeds of Piglets are also not easily available in the local market of Meghalaya. So, to meet the high demand of improved breeds of Piglets, he converted his Pig Farm to a Pig Breeding Unit. He received 8 numbers (4 male, 4 female) of crossbred Piglets (Hampshire X Local Khasi) in August, 2017 for breeding purposes from the ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region, Umiam under the Farmer’s FIRST Project (FFP).

To keep the animals free from disease, he is able to vaccinate the Pigs against Classical Swine Fever (CSF) and also give minor treatments to them.

Income generated from pig breeding unit

Awards / Recognitions

Shri Mrinal Sohkhwai received “Innovative Farmer Award – 2020” from the ICAR-National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad on the occasion of “45^th NAARM Foundation Day”  on 1^st September, 2020.

Source: Farmers’ FIRST Project Programme, ICAR-Research Complex for North-Eastern Hills Region, Umiam, Meghalaya