The Highlanders in Yaktsa, Nubri and Chundukha in Tsento and Doteng Gewogs play a crucial role high up in the mountains.
They play a vital role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem, conserving the water sources and protecting fragile biodiversity of the mountains.
Nonetheless life up in the alpine region is not easy and cannot be compared anyway with their counter parts in the low lands. Unlike other communities, the highlanders depend on Yak farming and major sources of income is from Yak and its products. With long dry and harsh winter, the highlanders have to go through acute shortage of animal feed which impacts their livelihood due to poor nutrition leading to high mortality during extreme weather condition.
Recently we have received reports of large numbers of Yak deaths related to migration stress, extreme cold due to continues snow fall.
In such critical situations when natural grass has not yet germinated due to continued snow fall and going through acute shortage of feed, the Dzongkhag Administration, Paro on 30th April 2026 came forward to rescue the Yaks, especially young calves with the feed supplement supply program.
The Highlanders have received 50 kgs of cattle concentrate, 40 kgs of mustard cake and 25kgs of salt each for 47 households. In total 2350 kgs of cattle concentrate, 1880kgs of mustard cake, 1175kgs of salt and few empty gunny bags were distributed to them. For this program, the Livestock Sector, Dzongkhag Administration, Paro spent a sum of Nu. 0.165987 million from the contingency fund in this financial year.
The modality of supply is as per the cost sharing mechanism (CSM) 2025 of MoAL while the transportation which involves huge expenditure will be borne by the beneficiaries.
On the same day, the highlanders of Yaksa and Nubri have also received 2100kgs of Oat seeds from National Highland Development Centre (NHDC) Department of Livestock Sector (DoL) MoAL, Wangduephodrang on 70:30 % Government to Farmers cost sharing basis.
With the little support of animal feed from Dzongkhag Administration, Paro and Oat seeds from NHDC, DoL Wangdue, we hope the feed expenditure burdens on the highlanders will be reduced to some extent and go a long way reducing the animal mortality especially young calves which will help improve and sustain their livelihood.
We are grateful to NHDC, DoL. MoAL for such valuable initiatives during critical times.
Reported by Thinley Dorji, Assistant Dzongkhag Livestock Officer.
