Farming in Kaligandaki Corridor

Damauli (Tanahun), September 21: For the first time in Tanahun, a Kali Gandaki Corridor-focused livestock, poultry, and fishery production and promotion program has been implemented. Targeted at Rishing, Ghiring, and Devghat rural municipalities by the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Center in Tanahun, the initiative encompasses everything from improving farmers’ sheds to providing modern equipment and breeding animals.

According to Rudra Singh Thakuri, an animal health technician at the center, out of the allocated budget of NPR 6 million for the program, NPR 5.88 million has been spent. The program was initiated with the objective of commercializing animal husbandry and increasing production and productivity in the rural areas surrounding the Kali Gandaki Corridor.

A total of 69 farmers from Rishing, Ghiring, and Devghat rural municipalities have directly benefited from the program. The office stated that the support has been heavily focused on essential infrastructure, modern equipment, and breeding animals to shift animal husbandry from a subsistence-level practice to a commercial enterprise.

Animal health technician Thakuri noted that utilizing local resources can help minimize production costs, allowing farmers to reap higher profits from their output. He added that the development of modern equipment, improved sheds, breed enhancement, and milk collection infrastructure will help make livestock farming much more organized and professional.

Given the high potential for animal husbandry in the rural pockets along the Kali Gandaki Corridor, the center expressed confidence that this inaugural program has laid a solid foundation for directly connecting farmers to commercial production.

Key Highlights of the Program and Support Provided:

• Cattle Farming Support: 8 new sheds were constructed, and 37 sheds were repaired and improved through two dairy farmer groups and cooperatives.
• Dairy Equipment: To maintain the quality of livestock products and facilitate milk collection and management, deep freezers, milk analyzers, and chilling vats were provided.
• Logistics & Farm Tools: 75 steel cans for milk collection and transport, 25 grass cutters for easy feed management, and 95 cow mats for animal health and comfort were purchased and distributed to farmers and cooperatives.
• Breed Improvement (Cattle): One breeding buffalo bull (rango) was distributed to improve animal breeds and enhance production capacity.
• Goat Farming Support: 23 new sheds (khor) were built through a goat-rearing farmers’ cooperative, alongside one combine mill and one chaff cutter for feed and fodder management.
• Breed Improvement (Goats): Eight breeding bucks (boka) were provided to aid in breed improvement and productivity growth.