National Research Centre on Yak (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)

Dirang, West Kameng DistrictArunachal Pradesh - 790101

Sustainable Development of Yak Husbandry and Nomadic Yak Herdsmen: Can Geomatics based

Study Change the Reality?

Sanjit Maiti, K.K. Baruah, Sanchita Garai* & Vijay Paul

National Research Centre on Yak, Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh*National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana

By

National Research Centre on Yak (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)

Dirang, West Kameng DistrictArunachal Pradesh - 790101

Preface…

Habitat: High altitudes of Asian mountains (3000 m to 6000 m MSL) at Tibetan plateau and adjoining regions of Himalayas

Socio-economic importance of yak for highlanders is tremendous as it provides:

•Milk •Meat •Hair/wool •Transport & draught

Yak (Poephagus grunniens L)

Provide 62 % of livelihood requirement of highlanders of Arunachal Pradesh

The Monpa Tribe – The Brokpas (Nomadic yak herdsmen of Arunachal Pradesh)

The Monpa, a major tribe is one of tribes Arunachal Pradesh

They inhabits at the higher altitudes (10,000 to 15,000 ft. MSL) in Tawang and western part of West Kameng District

5% of total population (87% of Tawang and W Kameng) is the Monpa tribe

The Monpa practice shifting and permanent types of cultivation. Cattle, yaks, cows, pigs, sheep and fowl are kept as domestic animals, and meat is hunted using primitive methods

Reality of Yak Husbandry

1. Dwindling population

2. High rate of grazing tax

3. High rate of inbreeding depression

4. Lack of fodder and feed resources during

winter season

5. In sufficient and degraded highland

pasture

6. Unavailability of superior breeding bull

7. Increasing rate of disease infestation

8. Attack of wildlife to yak herd

9. Frequent natural calamities

10. Rigid religious belief inhibit adoption of

scientific rearing

11. Insufficient extension service by the

development organisation

12. Leech infestation during rainy season

13. Poor health coverage of the diseased

animal

14. Less return and poor market coverage of

the yak products

15. Younger generation are not interested

16. Ban of grazing in forest area

Geomatics based study can solve the problem of …………

1. Lack of fodder and feed resources during winter

season

2. In sufficient and degraded highland pasture

3. Unavailability of superior breeding bull

4. Increasing rate of disease infestation

5. Frequent natural calamities

Survey, Characterization & Mapping

• For the generation of base map of grasslands, unsupervised classification of grasslands was done using satellite IRSP6L3#B2, 3,4&5 of the year 2009 & 2010.

• During the field survey high resolution GPS (Garmin GPS Map 273) was used.

• Field survey of Grassland, soil, grazing animals, pastoral communities and grazing system was conducted.

Satellite image of Arunachal Pradesh

Satellite image of Sikkim

Natural Pastures and Their Utilization Strategy

• Above 25-30 major pasturelands/ grazing grounds with an area of 2780 ha are used for yak grazing in Arunachal Pradesh.

• In Sikkim about 834 ha pastureland is used for yak grazing.

• Yak herdsmen practice four-pasture utilization strategy.Summer Pastures: July-SeptemberAutumn Pasture: Mid of Sept to DecWinter Pastures: Mid of Dec to FebSpring Pastures: March to June

Summer pasture

Winter pasture

Existing Pasture Quality

• Some of the edible grass species found in the yak rearing tracks of NE-India are:– Kyllinga monocephala– Poa annua– Fimbristylis squarrosa– Eragrostis spp.– Alopecurus spp.– Pogonatherum

crinitium– Eriochloa spp

• Tree leaves are fed primarily during the fodder scarcity period. The locally available tree fodder are:– Blemkar (Buddleja asiatica)– Domkar (Symplocos racemosa)– Salix (Salix humboldtiana)– Syluli (Acer campbellii)– Maar (Castanopsis spp.)– Zimbu (Ligustrum myrsinitis)– Phrengpa (Quercus wallichiana)– Dudhilo (Ficus nemorlis)– Chiple (Reevesia pubescens)

Pasture Grasses Tree Fodder

Blemkar (Buddleja asiatica) Maar (Castanopsis spp.)

Zimbu (Ligustrum myrsinitis)Domkar (Symplocos racemosa)

Syluli (Acer campbellii) Matekpa (Quercus fenestrate)

Dactylis glomerata Trifolium repens

Trial plots for pasture development

Tree fodder (Salix) plantation

Dactylis glomerata Weeding in trial plot

Fresh Biomass

Conclusion• Remote yak tracts can be mapped by using

GIS based satellite mapping

• After developing of these maps, basic amenities can be arranged

• Soil nutrition and vegetation map can also be developed

• Production potentiality of the high altitude pastures can be assessed

• Geomatics based study on disease monitoring and surveillance can check the high level of disease infestation of lower mid altitude of yak tracts

Geomatics based study may be the panacea to change the ground reality of present yak husbandry and nomadic yak herdsmen

• Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services of Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim

• Mr Passang Bhutia• ICAR for financial support under NTPP project• Dr K. A. Singh, Director, IGFRI, Jhansi• Dr. J. P. Singh, National Coordinator, NTPP project

Acknowledgement