📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Mahnoorrana11
Agriculture
Union Minister Launches Centre of Excellence for Sikkim’s Indigenous Siri Cattle
✍️ Sikkimexpress
🗓 04 Nov 2026, 12:01 AM
👁 17
The Union Minister unveiled a dedicated Centre of Excellence aimed at conserving and promoting the indigenous Siri cattle breed of Sikkim.
New Delhi – In a move to bolster the conservation of Sikkim’s native livestock, the Union Minister announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for the Siri cattle breed. The centre, slated to be set up in Sikkim, will serve as a hub for research, breeding and capacity‑building for local farmers.
Siri cattle, a dwarf breed native to the Himalayan region, are prized for their hardiness, low feed requirements and high-quality milk. They play a crucial role in the agrarian economy of Sikkim, especially in remote hill villages where conventional breeds struggle to thrive.
The newly announced facility will house state‑of‑the‑art veterinary labs, breeding farms and training units. Officials said it will facilitate scientific breeding programmes, disease monitoring and the dissemination of best‑practice husbandry techniques to improve productivity and preserve genetic purity.
Funding for the centre will come from central and state allocations, with an emphasis on community participation. The minister highlighted that the initiative aligns with broader government efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and protect indigenous animal resources.
Siri cattle, a dwarf breed native to the Himalayan region, are prized for their hardiness, low feed requirements and high-quality milk. They play a crucial role in the agrarian economy of Sikkim, especially in remote hill villages where conventional breeds struggle to thrive.
The newly announced facility will house state‑of‑the‑art veterinary labs, breeding farms and training units. Officials said it will facilitate scientific breeding programmes, disease monitoring and the dissemination of best‑practice husbandry techniques to improve productivity and preserve genetic purity.
Funding for the centre will come from central and state allocations, with an emphasis on community participation. The minister highlighted that the initiative aligns with broader government efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and protect indigenous animal resources.