ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Information utilization pattern, Mithun farmers, Mithun husbandry, Regression http://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2022.58303 Received 11-04-2022; Accepted 22-05-2022 Copyright@ Indian Journal of Extension Education (http://www.iseeindia.org.in/) Research Article Indian Journal of Extension Education Vol. 58, No. 3 (July–September), 2022, (14-17) ISSN 0537-1996 (Print) ISSN 2454-552X (Online) Information Sources, their Utilization Pattern vis-à-vis Mithun (Bos frontalis) Husbandry in Arunachal Pradesh Kamni P. Biam 1 , L. Sunitibala Devi 2 , K. Khate 2 , N. Uttam Singh 3 , Pampi Paul 1 and C. Gowda 1 1 Scientist, 3 Senior Scientist, ICAR-Research Complex for North Eastern Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India 2 Scientist, ICAR-National Research Centre on Mithun, Medziphema, Nagaland, India *Corresponding author email id: kamnipaia@gmail.com ABSTRACT The study was designed to assess the utilization pattern of mithun husbandry information sources by the mithun farmers in the state of Aruncahal Pradesh during 2019-20. Using multi-stage stratified random sampling a total of 120 farmers who owned and reared mithuns was selected. The study compared the utilization pattern of different sources and channels used by the farmers. Overall, the major source of channel of the mithun for any information on mithun management and production was their fellow mithun friends, followed by television and internet. The indigenous knowledge played a prime source for mithun husbandry information. Multiple regression analysis was employed to find out the independent variables that simultaneously contributed the information utilization pattern. Age of the household head, years of formal education, annual income from mithun and annual income significantly contributed in influencing the information utilization pattern. The mithun farmers of Aruncahal Pradesh used both the traditional as well as modern tools to access the mithun management and production information. INTRODUCTION Mithun (Bos fronatlis) the unique and elegant bovine species of North East India, is being reared in four states only, viz. Aruncahal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland with Arunachal Pradesh accounting for almost 90 per cent of the population (Biam et al., 2021). Mithuns are free ranging bovines inhabiting deeply within the community forests and jungles. In most case, the mithun owners are resource poor and have low purchasing power as a result they mostly use their locally acquired traditional knowledge and information on mithun management and production from their forefathers and fellow mithun which at times is not accurate and sufficient. Still the personal sources dominate the agricultural information system and the dearth of extension personnel and their poor linkages with farmers and amongst themselves have enough indication for the development planners (Bhagat et al ., 2004; Nain et al., 2015). Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools are mostly used to get benefit of general communication and entertainment purpose and less for marketing and other productive purpose (Panda et al., 2019), although social media have the potential to promote the creation of social wealth in the form of discussion forums for learning exchange (Nain et al., 2019). The changing environment of the food and agricultural industry, particularly in the livestock-based high-value agriculture segment, has made information and knowledge become an increasingly crucial aspect in production for successful decision- making (Birkhaeuser et al., 1991; Cash, 2001; Galloway & Mochrie, 2005; Adhiguru et al., 2009). In developing countries, centralized extension services rarely prioritize the dissemination of livestock production knowledge (Morton & Matthewman, 1996). Though the government of India provides veterinary services, funding constraints have made it impossible for most state governments to expand livestock services and improve service quality (Ahuja et al., 2003; Bardhan, 2010). Farmers, as food producers, must have access to know-how and do-how in order to realize the full