Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday called for a comprehensive roadmap to conserve yaks, improve the incomes of yak herders and develop a viable market for yak-based products.
Addressing the Yak Economy Summit 2026 and Yak Mela at Mago in Tawang district, Khandu said yak rearing was not only a livelihood but also part of the social, cultural and strategic landscape of the Himalayan belt, stretching from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh.
“From the perspective of national security, it is our duty to support our Brokpa communities and yak herders through appropriate policy interventions,” he said, stressing the need to strengthen pastoral communities living in remote and strategically important areas.
Khandu said yak associations had been formed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh under the Yak Federation of India. He recalled participating virtually in the Federation’s first programme in Ladakh and said the Mago deliberations were significant for the entire country.
The Chief Minister announced that a follow-up meeting would be held in February, within the next three months, to review progress and finalise a roadmap. The roadmap would identify policy interventions required from the State and Central governments to ease the difficulties faced by yak herders and raise their incomes.
Khandu said a clear understanding of the sector is essential before any plan could move forward. He called for comprehensive mapping of yak populations, herders and their seasonal movements, including both summer and winter grazing camps.
Such mapping, he said, would help develop suitable infrastructure and ensure sustainable management of yak herds.
The Chief Minister also stressed the need to organise herders into cooperatives. He called for setting up the Arunachal Pradesh Yak Herders and Products Development Cooperative Society, saying a cooperative framework would help herders pool resources, strengthen bargaining power, access markets and build businesses around yak products.
The proposed roadmap is expected to bring together the Army, ICAR-National Research Centre on Yak (ICAR-NRCY), government departments and other stakeholders for a coordinated approach to yak rearing and pastoral livelihoods.
Khandu called for capacity building and the adoption of scientific yak-rearing practices, including the semi-intensive model developed by ICAR-NRCY. He said basic amenities should be developed for Brokpa communities at summer and winter satellite stations without disturbing traditional grazing practices and livelihoods.
He also suggested consideration of a Brokpa-friendly grazing tax regime, particularly in winter grazing grounds.
On the commercial side, Khandu said yak dairy products had strong market potential because of their quality and taste. He expressed confidence that yak cheese and yak ghee could compete with established brands if developed and marketed properly.
He called for stronger dairy development and value chains for yak milk products and fibre, along with the involvement of investors and entrepreneurs to improve processing, marketing and market access. Value-added products, he said, could create better economic incentives for Brokpa families while generating local employment and skills.
The proposed interventions include preservation of indigenous yak germplasm, improvement of breeding practices and herd records, and supply of quality breeding animals to herders. Khandu also stressed the need to explore a yak insurance policy and a bankable yak-farming scheme to reduce risks and encourage sustainable investment.
The Chief Minister said yak-based livelihoods could go beyond animal husbandry to include cottage stays, guiding services and the sale of local crafts. Linkages with the Vibrant Villages Programme and Ranbhoomi Darshan could connect pastoral communities with tourism and related economic opportunities.
The summit also discussed education-related proposals for yak herders under the National Livelihood Mission framework and targeted support for Brokpa communities. The possibility of extending special-category recognition to Brokpas, along with the Puroik community, was also raised for consideration.
Khandu thanked all stakeholders who attended the summit, with particular appreciation for Brokpa herders who travelled from remote villages in West Kameng district to take part in the deliberations.
The summit sought to bring conservation, scientific yak rearing, community welfare and market development into a common framework to protect traditional Himalayan livelihoods while building a sustainable and commercially viable yak economy.