ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Piggery Development

Piggery development is of considerable significance, particularly in the North-Eastern region of the country. The pig is one of the most efficient food converting animals among domesticated livestock, and can play an important role in improving the socio-economic status of the weaker sections of the society.

Exotic breeds of pigs like Large white Yorkshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, Saddleback are maintained in the 200 pig breeding farms of State Governments, Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendra. The Department was implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Assistance to States for Intregrated Piggery Development” since 1991-92. Though it was discontinued after the 9th plan, it is being revived 2005-06 onwards as a component of the new macroscheme "National Project for Improvement of Poultry and Small Animals. A major constraint in piggery development is lack of adequate high quality breeding stock. To overcome this problem, exotic breeds of 280 pigs of Largewhite, Landrace and Hampshire were imported by this department for state government pig farms, from USA during 1999-2000. These pigs have now started producing piglets.