Bhubaneswar: Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University recently formalized a strategic partnership with the ICAR-National Research Centre on Yak through a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at advancing collaborative research in animal husbandry.
This agreement establishes a framework for academic and scientific exchange, focusing on the unique physiological and genetic characteristics of the yak, a species vital to the high-altitude ecosystem of the Himalayan region.
The ICAR-NRCY, located at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, has served as a cornerstone for cold-climate livestock research since its inception in 1989.
By partnering with SOA, the institute intends to leverage the university’s academic resources to address challenges such as nutritional management, disease control, and the conservation of yak germplasm.
This collaboration is particularly significant as climate change continues to impact the nomadic pastoral systems that rely on these animals for milk, fiber, and transport.
The formal signing ceremony featured Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, and Dr. Dinamani Medhi, Senior Scientist at ICAR-NRCY.
They were supported by key academic leaders from the Institute of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, including Dean Prof. Sushanta Kumar Das and Dr. Ashok Kumar Barik.
The partnership is expected to facilitate student internships, faculty exchange programs, and joint funding applications for projects that bridge the gap between traditional livestock farming and modern veterinary biotechnology.