𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑: Dasho Secretary accompanied by a team from the Department of Livestock visited the Native Pig and Turkey relocation farm at Ramtoktok today. During the visit, Dasho provided valuable recommendations and conducted a thorough assessment of the capital works which were funded by the European Union (EU) as part of its initiative to promote an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agri-food system in the country.
𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐮𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦
Native pig farming, once prevalent in many rural communities in the past and persisting to the present day in few locations, has largely remained at a subsistence level and is at risk of extinction in specific regions. Despite the substantial advantages and potential for the development of native pig breeds, the program to promote these breeds received less emphasis with the increased import and introduction of exotic pig breeds into the country. In comparison to exotic breeds, native pig breeds demonstrate superior adaptability, require less intensive management, possess hardiness, and display resistance to diseases. Notably, a comprehensive on-farm breeding trial conducted in the past by the present management of National Nucleus Pig Breeding Centre indicated that, under optimal management conditions encompassing feeding, housing, and sanitation, the overall performance of indigenous pigs was reasonably comparable to that of exotic breeds.
Therefore, there is a need to exert substantial effort to safeguard, promote, and sustainably utilize native pig resources by extending adequate policy support. Presently, sporadic conservation initiatives, both in situ and ex situ, are being pursued at farmers’ fields; however, these efforts need reinforcement. The establishment of functional native pig nucleus farm at Ramtoktok is crucial to address the considerable decline in the native pig population in the country, ensuring a sustainable native pig genetic resources for both development and conservation purposes.
