Farmers of Rookha chiwog in Wangdue Phodrang are reviving the age-old culture of rearing native pig. Today almost every household owns a pigsty, raising at least one pig of indigenous breed.
Rearing indigenous pig is native to people of Rookha chiwog. But over the time the practice of rearing hybrid pigs have almost put the age-old culture on the verge of extinction.
However, upon an assessment last year, the dzongkhag administration found that some farmers in Rookha still rear the indigenous pig. The locals were encouraged to revive the culture since then.
“We are rearing the native pigs to preserve and promote our age-old culture. Moreover, the meat of local breed tastes better than that of the hybrid breed,” said Phub Tshering.
“I started rearing native pig starting this year. Recently, I have sold one pig and fetched around Nu 15,000,” added Kezang who also rears indigenous pig in Rookha.
Today the people of the Rookha chiwog also supply and sell their native piglets and pigs to the people in rests of the dzongkhags. Farmers of about two chiwogs from Dakar Gewog and almost all the people in Athang Gewog rear native pigs.
The Dzongkhag Livestock Sector initiated the revival of the culture. The Annual Livestock Statistics Report of the country showed that the native pig farming culture in the country is declining.
“There is a high chance of local breed of native pigs going extinct in the country. And I am sure we will not be able to get the breed of local pigs in future if we do not preserve it today. So, we are encouraging and helping farmers to rear the native pigs by providing financial supports, shed construction materials and piglets. We are trying to promote the culture by providing necessary management training to the farmers as well,” said Ugyen, the Livestock Officer for Wangdue Dzongkhag.
Further, a study carried out by Bhutanese scholars have also found that although indigenous pig comprises 68 per cent of the total pig population, their numbers are rapidly declining. If the trend continues, indigenous pigs will become extinct within the next 10 years and if this genetic resource is once lost, it is largely irreplaceable.
Changa Dorji
