Karnataka - Bijapur   

Project to save Mudhol Hound launched

SAVING THE BREED: The Mudhol Hound is on the verge of extinction.

Bijapur: The Mudhol Hound, an Indian breed of dogs found in Karnataka and known for their ability to endure rough weather, their hunting skills and loyalty, are on the verge of extinction.

Realising the need to protect the breed and save it from extinction, the Government has decided to set up a Mudhol Hound Research and Information Centre at Timmapur village of Mudhol taluk in Bagalkot district.

The proposal sent by district in-charge Minister Govind Karjol to Minister for Animal Husbandry Revu Naik Belamagi has been approved by the Cabinet. The project is being implemented under the management of Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar. The authorities have identified 10 acres of land that will be developed in phases over a period of five years.

Sources in the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University told The Hindu that the Mudhol Hound, also known as the Caravan Hound, was brought to India by Arabs, Persians and Afghans who came to India to trade in ancient times. These dogs followed their nomadic masters from place to place and are now mostly found in Mudhol in Bijapur district.

Now, these dogs are on the verge of extinction as people prefer other breeds for aesthetic reasons. The proposed Mudhol Hound Research and Information Centre aims to conduct research on aspects such as physical strength, food habits, training, management and reproduction, in collaboration with doctors abroad.

A project report has been submitted to the Government, and work on the centre will begin shortly.

Bijapur district is susceptible to drought, and every year small and medium farmers incur heavy losses. As there are no alternative sources of income, hundreds of farmers, farm workers and poor people migrate to other places to earn their livelihood.

Realising the need to provide other sources of income to the poor, district in-charge Minister Govind Karjol has proposed that a Fisheries Research and Information Centre be set up at Alamatti, on the banks of the Krishna, to encourage people to take up fishing to earn some extra income.

The project has been approved by the Cabinet, and Minister for Animal Husbandry Revu Naik Belamagi sent a consent letter to Mr. Karjol recently to go ahead with the project. This project will also be implemented under the management of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar.

Mr. Karjol told The Hindu that a decision had been taken to also start a fisheries college at Alamatti and offer an 11-month diploma course in the subject. Sources in the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University said that the proposed Fisheries Research and Information Centre would be set up on 25 acres of land, which had already been identified by the district administration.

The project requires Rs. 2.6 crore for construction of an administrative building, a fishing pond, a laboratory, a training centre and staff quarters. The amount for this project will be released under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in phases over five years.

The centre aims to take up research related to fisheries, find new methods by which people can earn profit through fishing, provide technical advice on construction of fish ponds to interested institutions, provide proper market to sell fish and conduct training programmes to create awareness on how it can improve farmers’ financial conditions and avoid migration, the sources said.

The centre will also concentrate on setting up centres for providing information on breeding ornamental fishes.

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