KHOROG, March 18, Asia-Plus — Local authorities of Gorno Badakhshan intend to increase population of domesticated yaks in the region.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Imomdod Farhodov, the deputy head of the GBAO agriculture directorate, said that the government on March 2, 2008 adopted endorsed the national program for increasing the population of domesticated yaks and fine-fleeced sheep in the country. The program designed for 208-2015 provides for annually allocating 200,000 somonis to yak-breeding farms.
According to him, yak-breeding farm has been set up on the basis of the Bulunkul farm in the Murgab district and a farm for breeding fine-fleeced sheep has been set up on the basis of Saghirdasht farm in the Darvoz district.
Mr. Farhodov added that the population of the domesticated yaks in Gorno Badakhshan is now more than 15,000 head. The adopted national program stipulates increasing the population of the domesticated yaks in the region to more than 17,000 heads.
In Gorno Badakhshan, domesticated yaks are raised only Murgab, Shugnan, Roshtqala and Ishkashim districts as well in Bartang Valley in the Rushan district.
Domesticated yaks are kept primarily for their milk, fiber, and meat and as beasts of burden. They transport goods across mountain passes for local farmers and traders as well as in support of climbing and trekking expeditions.
In 2002, the yak-breeding farms of Gorno Badakhshan realized more than 200 head of yaks to mountain districts in the Sughd province and the Jirgatol district.
