Pema Khandu calls for cooperatives, insurance and markets for yak products as Mago summit puts Himalayan livelihoods in focus
Guwahati, Oct 18: For families who rear yaks in Arunachal Pradesh’s high-altitude villages, the animal is more than a source of milk, meat and fibre. It is central to their livelihood, their way of life and their ties to the mountains.
The question before the state is whether yak herding can remain viable for the next generation — and whether the people who sustain it can earn more from their animals.
At the Yak Economy Summit 2026 and Yak Mela in Mago, Tawang district, Chief Minister Pema Khandu called for a roadmap to improve herders’ incomes, conserve indigenous yak populations and develop markets for yak products.
He also made a case for government support to Brokpa communities, whose traditional grazing grounds lie in remote parts of the Himalayan region.
“From the perspective of national security, it is our duty to support our Brokpa communities and yak herders through appropriate policy interventions,” Khandu said.
The summit brought together a range of proposals, from mapping herds and grazing routes to setting up cooperatives, improving breeding and exploring insurance for yak farmers. The challenge will be to turn these ideas into measures that make a difference to herders on the ground.
First, find out where the herds are
Khandu called for a comprehensive mapping of yak populations, herders and their seasonal movements. Both summer and winter grazing camps would have to be identified before infrastructure and other support could be planned.
The exercise would help the government understand the needs of herders who move with their animals across difficult terrain and often live far from basic services.
The Chief Minister said the proposed roadmap should involve the Army, the ICAR-National Research Centre on Yak, government departments and other stakeholders.
A follow-up meeting is expected in February to review progress and work out the policy measures required from the state and Central governments.
Herders need a stronger hand in the market
One proposal is to set up an Arunachal Pradesh Yak Herders and Products Development Cooperative Society.
Khandu said a cooperative could help herders pool resources, improve their bargaining power and find markets for their products.
Yak milk, cheese, ghee and fibre offer possibilities for businesses, but developing them will require investment in processing, marketing and distribution. The summit called for entrepreneurs and investors to be brought into the sector.
Khandu said yak cheese and ghee could compete with established brands if their quality and taste were effectively marketed.
For herders, the important question is whether such ventures will translate into better prices and more dependable earnings.
Support for herders, not just their products
The Chief Minister also called for better breeding practices, scientific yak-rearing methods and preservation of indigenous yak germplasm. He urged herders to consider the semi-intensive rearing model developed by ICAR-NRCY.
The proposals include supplying quality breeding animals, maintaining herd records and exploring an insurance policy and a bankable yak-farming scheme.
Khandu also called for basic amenities at summer and winter satellite stations used by Brokpa communities. A grazing tax regime suited to their needs, particularly in winter grazing grounds, was another proposal for consideration.
The summit raised the possibility of education-related support for yak herders under the National Livelihood Mission framework. It also discussed special-category recognition for Brokpa and Puroik communities. These proposals would require further consideration by the authorities.
Tourism could offer another source of income
Yak herding families could also benefit from tourism, Khandu suggested, through cottage stays, guiding services and the sale of local crafts.
He called for exploring links with the Vibrant Villages Programme and Ranbhoomi Darshan, which could bring visitors to remote Himalayan settlements.
The idea is to create additional income without displacing traditional pastoral livelihoods.
Yak associations have been formed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, and brought together under the Yak Federation of India. Khandu said the discussions in Mago were important for yak-rearing communities across the country.
He thanked Brokpa herders who had travelled from remote villages in West Kameng district to attend the summit.
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