Krishi Vigyan Kendra Papumpare

In the present global scenario of food crisis, it is needless to mention the role of livestock and poultry sector in the livelihood of the human populace. Arunachal Pradesh is the northeastern most state of India dominated by native tribal people with the total population of 10, 91,117 (Census, 2001). The state has rich diversity of flora, fauna and water resources; the unique natural scenic beauty and possession of unique animals (Mithun and Yak) and birds (Hornbill, white winged wood duck etc) has made it the 13^th mega hotspot for environmentalist. Basically, the native populations are agrarian and nature loving people. Although there is rapid urbanization, the state still evidences a substantial number of rural populations (79.59 %). Agriculture and livestock rearing are culturally and traditionally bonded and act as back bone of the Arunachalee people and majority of the farmers practices mixed farming (agricultural crop + horticultural crop + livestock) or integrated farming system.

Percentage of Livestock and Poultry holding in respect to NE total (in ‘000)

State	Cattle	Sheep	Goat	Pig	Yak	Mithun
Arunachal Pradesh	458	19	231	330	9	192
NE total	11488	227	4366	3816	16	254
% of AP	3.99	8.37	5.29	8.65	56.25	75.59

Although crossbreeding is spreading its pang still the majority of the livestock species (cattle, sheep, pig and goat) are indigenous and non-descript in type. The states possesses maximum of the Mithun and yak (pack animal) population in comparison to the other NE states. Mithuns are widely distributed throughout the state (excepting the alpine zone) and are reared traditionally in a semi-domesticated form (free-range management system). The animal receives the highest privilege in the tribal society, being the choice animal used in sacred traditionally ceremonies and in wedding as gift to the bride. The Mithuns are allowed to graze freely in deep-forest in small congregated herds without any attendants. Yak is a sure-footed economically important animal of the highlanders (alpine zone) which provides purely organic milk, meat and wool (coarse and fine); besides it also provides the means of transportation or carriage on the high hills to the highlanders. They are reared in the free range system in the alpine zone of the state in trans-migratory manner. Being one of the threatened livestock species it is getting due attention from the ICAR and the state government.