गाईभैँसीपालन
Top Bahadur Chhetri, a resident of Lasti, Jaljala Rural Municipality-Ward 8 in Parbat district, has found both name and fame—along with a monthly net profit of over NPR 100,000 from milk sales—after returning from foreign employment and venturing into dairy farming.
Having spent 13 years working as a driver in Saudi Arabia, Chhetri returned home after falling ill and started the “Goma Cow and Buffalo Farm” in 2073 BS (2016/17) with just three cattle when he saw no other viable employment options.
Farm Growth and Earnings
- Current Livestock: 14 cows and buffaloes.
- Daily Sales: 90 liters of milk, generating NPR 2,700 daily.
- Monthly Savings: Over NPR 100,000 after deducting expenses for feed, medicine, and farm management.
- Additional Products: Chhetri also produces and sells buttermilk, paneer, and ghee.
From his livestock earnings, he has successfully paid off the loans he incurred to send his three children abroad. Even though his business expansion led to debts of up to NPR 6 million, the income from animal husbandry made managing and clearing those loans much easier.
Overcoming Challenges and Gaining Expertise
Initially, Chhetri faced hurdles due to a lack of professional knowledge and business planning, and even his neighbors and relatives doubted the venture. He also recalled facing losses during the COVID-19 pandemic when milk could not be transported to the market and went to waste.
Later, he received technical knowledge, skills, and grants through a growth-oriented entrepreneurship development project jointly implemented by the Gandaki Province government and the Daitariat organization in Jaljala Rural Municipality. This training vastly improved his farm management.
Supply Chain and Local Support
The milk produced by farmers in Pharse and Lasti is collected by the local Sangam Milk Production and Agricultural Cooperative Society and marketed in Baglung. According to Cooperative Secretary Khadga KC, the organization purchases 600 to 800 liters of milk daily from a total of 40 farmers and arranges its sale in Baglung.
The rural municipality provides technical assistance, while the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Center under the provincial government provides a subsidy of NPR 5 per liter through the cooperative.
Future Plans and Current Challenges
Chhetri plans to increase the number of cattle in his farm to 30, scale up production, and further expand the manufacturing and marketing of dairy products. However, he noted that a shortage of skilled workers remains a major challenge, as the business demands continuous labor for regular care, feeding, and cleaning.
Having spent years abroad, Chhetri’s livestock farm has proven not just to be an alternative form of employment, but the foundation for transforming his family’s economic status.
