The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officially designated the mithun as a ‘food animal,’ paving the way for commercial exploitation.
Mithun’s Biography
- The Mithun, also known as the Gayal (Bos frontalis in science), is thought to have originated from the Indian Gaur or bison.
- Aylmer Bourke Lambert described it for the first time in 1804.
- It is culturally and economically vital to Arunachal Pradesh tribes such as the Nyishi, Apatani, Galo, and Adi.
- Northeast India, Bangladesh, northern Myanmar, and Yunnan, China are all part of its range.
- It is also known as the ‘cattle of the mountain.’
- Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have gayals as their state animals.
Conservation status
- IUCN: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I.
Acceptance as a ‘Food Animal’
- This action has inspired attempts to assist farmers and tribal communities in economically benefiting from the sale and processing of mithun meat.
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has launched the M-ANITRA app, which allows Mithun farmers to register as both “buyers” and “sellers” in order to engage in competitive trade.
- Mithun farmers from various areas in Northeast India have been trained by organisations such as the ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun.
- Farmers are implementing mithun protection practises including as enclosures, night shelters, and immunisations.
- Mithuns can earn high rates as meat, with an average selling price of Rs 300 per kilogramme.
- Farmers are ecstatic at the prospect of commercially selling mithun meat.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/northeasts-mithun-gets-food-animal-tag-and-its-meat-a-leg-up-8948348/