Chief Minister Pema Khandu has launched the Yak Economy Summit 2026 and Yak Mela at Mago in Tawang district, bringing together Brokpa herders, scientists and the Indian Army to build a roadmap for yak conservation, better livelihoods and new yak-based products.
Custodians of a Unique Pastoral Tradition
Addressing the gathering, Khandu described the Brokpas — the semi-nomadic herding communities of the high Himalayas — as the custodians of a unique pastoral tradition who play an important role in sustaining life in the region’s remote mountain villages. He called the summit a historic initiative that would chart a comprehensive plan for conservation and livelihood support.
The chief minister said yak rearing was not merely a livelihood but an important part of the social, cultural and strategic landscape of the Himalayan belt, stretching from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. He stressed that both the state and the Centre must back traditional yak-rearing communities with focused policy support.
A Strategic Gathering at the Frontier
Mago sits in Tawang, a district that shares a sensitive border, and the presence of the Indian Army alongside herders and researchers signals that the conversation is as much about border resilience as it is about rural income. From the perspective of national security, Khandu said it was the country’s duty to support Brokpa communities and yak herders living in remote, strategically significant areas through appropriate policy interventions.
The summit builds on the district’s festival tradition — last year’s Yak Mela at Pangkangteng Tso drew yak rearers from across Tawang and put Brokpa heritage centre stage, alongside the district’s growing adventure-tourism push.
A Federation Takes Shape
Khandu said yak associations have now been formed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, and brought together under the Yak Federation of India. He recalled joining the federation’s first programme in Ladakh virtually, and said the deliberations at Mago matter for the entire country, not just Arunachal.
A follow-up meeting will be convened in February, within the next three months, to review progress and share a roadmap for taking the initiative forward. The yak — a long-haired species of domesticated cattle native to the Himalayan region and the Tibetan Plateau — remains central to the identity and economy of the high pastures.
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