An awareness programme on scientific yak husbandry with supports to the tribal yak farmers was organised by ICAR-National Research Centre on Yak, Dirang in collaboration with Animal Husbandry Department, Ladakh on August 22 at Block Veterinary Office, Nyoma.

A total of 100 tribal farmers associated with yak rearing from different villages under Nyoma Block participated in the programme.

Dr. Tsering Ladol, Block Veterinary Officer, Nyoma welcomed the scientists from ICAR-NRCY, Dirang, and all the participants coming from different villages. Dr. D. Medhi, Principal Scientist cum Programme Coordinator, ICAR-NRC on yak spoke about the activities of the institute along with the scientific management aspects of yaks for increasing its population and improvement of their productivity to contribute towards the Prime Minister vision for doubling farmers’ income. 

Dr. K. Mepfhuo, Scientist from the institute spoke on hygienic aspects for clean milk production and personal hygiene for the individuals with preventive measures against diseases like COVID 19 amongst the farmers. The scientific breeding strategies for increasing yak population in the country with the value addition yak products for better earning of the yak farmers was briefly described by Dr. Aneet Kour, Scientist, ICAR-NRC on yak. 

Dr. Arjuman Shaheen, Veterinary Officer, Leh talked on reproductive and health management aspects and the importance of vaccination in highland animals. Following the awareness programme with Farmer Scientist meet, different technologies developed by the institute especially the silage making for mitigation of winter feed crisis in livestock and value addition of yak products were showcased.

All the participants were supported with basic amenities for the yak farmers like gumboots, solar light, some basic veterinary medicines like anthelmintics, antidiarrhoeals, and wound healers for their animals through the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) of the institute. 

Dr. A. K. Rawat, Advisor, Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi; Dr. P. Chakravarty, Retired Principal Scientist, ICAR-NRCY and Dr. V. Paul, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NRCY appreciated the efforts of ICAR-NRC on Yak for the supportive measures for the benefits of the needy yak farmers engaging with yak husbandry at harsh climatic condition.

Councilors Nyoma and Korzok suggested the participants follow up the scientific management practices as advised by the scientist for better earning.