The government has launched a yak reintroduction initiative in Arunachal Pradesh’s Mechuka region aimed at revitalizing traditional livestock practices and providing livelihood opportunities for tribal communities. Six yaks, comprising four females and two males, were distributed to farmers to restore yak-based income in the Shi-Yomi district, where yak populations have dwindled. The program also included awareness sessions on scientific yak rearing for 45 farmers, along with input support under the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC), to enhance productivity and sustainability. The initiative, spearheaded by the ICAR–National Research Centre on Yak (ICAR–NRC on Yak) under Director Dr. Mihir Sarkar, emphasizes scientific yak husbandry practices critical to local economies in high-altitude areas. The program was executed in partnership with the Jomlo Mongku Mithun Farmers Federation (JMMFF) and the Animal Husbandry Department of Arunachal Pradesh, with officials highlighting the importance of institutional collaboration to expand livestock interventions in remote tribal regions.
