Study on marketing of pigs and pork for livelihood in the hills of Manipur

Pigs form a very important component of the Indian livestock sector. Pigs are generally raised by economically weaker section of the society, which provide them with an important source of livelihood as well as household food security. A study was undertaken to study the aspects of marketing of pigs and pork in the hill district of Senapati district (Manipur) inhabited mostly by resource poor tribal population covering 400 households. The pig farmers sold their pigs and their products mainly in the weekly local markets (44.75%) followed by 31.75 per cent at farmer's door and only 23.05 per cent through middlemen. The average age of slaughter varied from 23.35 + 1.70 to 28.05 + 1.71 months in different villages which did not differ significantly from each other. The pig meat was sold at approximately ₹ 185.00 per Kg in almost all the villages. Price of one slaughtered adult pig varied significantly from village to village depending on the size of the pigs and amount of fresh meats obtained, the price being varied from ₹7455.00 + 346.21 to ₹ 10161.00 + 198.99 in different villages. The pig farmers sold their weaned piglets @ ₹3300.00 approximately ranging from ₹3305.00 + 19.83 to ₹ 3417.50 + 22.44 in different villages. Marketing of pigs and their products at reasonable prices are directly related to the economy of tribal pig farmers