Through training, improved breeding support, and stronger market linkages, North East Initiative Development Agency (NEIDA), an associate organisation of the Tata Trusts, is helping pig-rearing households turn traditional practices into sustainable enterprises.
Seven piglets. Six breeding sows. One boar. That was the foundation on which Peleneinuo Khing and her husband decided to build a new life after
returning from Kohima to their native village in Nagaland's Tseminyu district.
The couple had moved back in 2024 in search of better opportunities and a closer connection to their roots. While Peleneinuo was familiar with raising pigs from her childhood, turning that experience into a successful enterprise proved more challenging than expected. Like many small-scale pig farmers in the region, they had limited exposure to modern pig husbandry practices, including scientific breeding, improved housing, sanitation, and farm management.
Their situation reflects a broader reality across Northeast India, where piggery plays a vital role in household incomes, food security, and local economies. Despite its importance, many farmers continue to operate with limited access to technical knowledge, quality inputs, animal health services, and organised markets, making it difficult to realise the full potential of their enterprises.
As the couple looked for ways to strengthen their venture, support arrived through the project “Integrated Rural Development - Pathways for Rural Prosperity through Piggery Enterprise in 30 villages across Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Assam.” The project is co-supported by the Tata Trusts and Tata AIG, and implemented by the NEIDA in Nagaland.
Peleneinuo participated in training programmes on improved pig husbandry practices and enterprise development. Recognising her commitment and potential, NEIDA later supported the establishment of a mini breeding unit through a project supported by Axis Bank Foundation. This helped the family improve housing conditions, reduce overcrowding, and manage their livestock more effectively.
Her membership in the Nzon Nyegi Cooperative Society Farmer Producer Organisation (an FPO formed by NEIDA) further strengthened her enterprise. Through the FPO, she gained access to quality feed, lower input costs, and better market linkages, enabling her to operate more efficiently and profitably.
The results soon became evident. In February 2026 alone, Peleneinuo sold 25 piglets and one fattening pig, generating significant income for the household. Today, her farm comprises seven breeding sows, one boar, and fifteen fatteners. She now plans to expand her breeding operations, adopt artificial insemination, and supply piglets to markets beyond her village.
The couple had moved back in 2024 in search of better opportunities and a closer connection to their roots. While Peleneinuo was familiar with raising pigs from her childhood, turning that experience into a successful enterprise proved more challenging than expected. Like many small-scale pig farmers in the region, they had limited exposure to modern pig husbandry practices, including scientific breeding, improved housing, sanitation, and farm management.
Their situation reflects a broader reality across Northeast India, where piggery plays a vital role in household incomes, food security, and local economies. Despite its importance, many farmers continue to operate with limited access to technical knowledge, quality inputs, animal health services, and organised markets, making it difficult to realise the full potential of their enterprises.
As the couple looked for ways to strengthen their venture, support arrived through the project “Integrated Rural Development - Pathways for Rural Prosperity through Piggery Enterprise in 30 villages across Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Assam.” The project is co-supported by the Tata Trusts and Tata AIG, and implemented by the NEIDA in Nagaland.
Peleneinuo participated in training programmes on improved pig husbandry practices and enterprise development. Recognising her commitment and potential, NEIDA later supported the establishment of a mini breeding unit through a project supported by Axis Bank Foundation. This helped the family improve housing conditions, reduce overcrowding, and manage their livestock more effectively.
Her membership in the Nzon Nyegi Cooperative Society Farmer Producer Organisation (an FPO formed by NEIDA) further strengthened her enterprise. Through the FPO, she gained access to quality feed, lower input costs, and better market linkages, enabling her to operate more efficiently and profitably.
The results soon became evident. In February 2026 alone, Peleneinuo sold 25 piglets and one fattening pig, generating significant income for the household. Today, her farm comprises seven breeding sows, one boar, and fifteen fatteners. She now plans to expand her breeding operations, adopt artificial insemination, and supply piglets to markets beyond her village.
For the last few years, the region has been reeling under the impact of the deadly African Swine Fever outbreak which has resulted in high mortality and
losses to pig rearers. But Peleneinuo's pigs have not yet been impacted because of the biosecurity measures she has adopted and the interior location of
the breeding unit.
Peleneinuo's journey demonstrates how the right combination of knowledge, infrastructure, and
market access can transform traditional livelihoods. Through interventions that strengthen the
entire piggery value chain, NEIDA is helping rural households move beyond subsistence farming
and build sustainable, income-generating enterprises.
