NYUKMADUNG, Nov 17: More than 500 yak rearers from different parts of West Kameng district benefitted from the 5th ‘Yak Mela’ organised by Dirang-based National Research Centre on Yak (NRCY) at Tom Hill here on Friday.
Tom Hill is located at an altitude of above 10,000 feet above sea level, and is inhabited by tribal yak rearers. The mela was aimed at promoting scientific yak rearing among them.
During the event, which was organized in collaboration with Kolkata-based ICAR-NIRJAFT, the Indian Army, the SSB, the NIMAS, the animal husbandry & veterinary department, and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), prizes were given to the ‘best brokpa (yak rearer) of the year’ and an exhibition stall was set up by the brokpas to encourage the yak rearing community to adopt scientific yak husbandry practices.
The NRCY distributed amenities such as tents, tarpaulins, feed blocks, mineral mixture, solar lanterns, raincoats, gumboots, etc, among 150 yak rearers, and presented a demonstration on the technologies developed by the institute to promote entrepreneurship among the youths of the state.
The other organizations, like the KVK, the NIMAS, the ITBP, and the SSB also showcased their activities during the mela.
Earlier, MLA Phurpa Tsering, who visited the event, urged the brokpas to find solutions to major problems with yak husbandry in consultation with the scientists of the NRCY. He emphasized on the importance of the yak in the economy of the highlanders, and highlighted the tradition of the community.
Brig Pratap Mallik from Tenga-based 5 Artillery Brigade commended the efforts of the NRCY, and assured support to such activities.
NRCY Director Dr P Chakravarty also spoke.
