Odisha’s Unique ‘Manda’ Buffalo Gets Breed Registration Certificate

Bhubaneswar: Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar presented the breed registration certificate of the unique ‘Manda’ buffalo of Odisha on Thursday.

Prof Susanta Kumar Dash, Head, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, received the registration certificate from the Minister at a function at ICAR-NAAS complex in New Delhi, sources said.

It is registered as the 19th breed of buffalo in India. Manda buffalo is native to Koraput and Raygada and a part of Malkangiri district.

Greyish black to blackish grey in colour with high disease resistance and heat tolerance capacity, Manda buffalo is a dual purpose medium size animal with daily milk yield of around 1.5 litres.

Mainly used for agricultural operations under undulated field conditions, Manda buffalo performs as the major engine in small holding farming system in Koraput region since generations, Prof Dash said.

This unique buffalo breed was surveyed, characterised and evaluated by OUAT and F&ARD department of under the leadership of the then Director of AH & VS Bishnupada Sethi. Prof Dash and Sethi published a book on Manda buffalo and claimed its national recognition in 2009.

Being registered as 19th buffalo breed of India, Manda buffalo deserves action towards its conservation and improvement. Under threat of climate change and urge for organic/natural farming, conservation of Manda buffalo will not only support small holding farming system but also address the biodiversity conservation as a whole.

There are 12 livestock breeds in Odisha out of 212 total breeds in India. Dash has registered 9 out of 12 in Odisha. Then the 4 cattle breeds – Binjharpuri, Motu, Khariar and Ghumusari were registered as national cattle breeds in 2010 along with Chilika buffalo and that was first of its kind after independence, Prof Dash addded.