Farmer Turns Goat Rearing into Lucrative Business, Earning Lakhs Annually

Myagdi. Kul Bahadur Pun from Hindi of Mangala Rural Municipality-2 has started earning lakhs annually from a farm he began with two goats four years ago.

Fifty-year-old Pun has become self-employed and self-reliant by operating a well-managed goat farm in the village as an alternative to foreign employment and traditional farming. "The farm, which I started with two mother goats at home, now has 48 goats, including kids, castrates, and mothers," he said, "About 15 to 20 are sold annually."

Pun stated that after starting goat farming, it has become easier to manage household expenses and children's education. Pun, who is also involved in social work, was previously earning a living through traditional farming and animal husbandry before starting goat farming. His wife also supports him in goat farming.

Pun mentioned that castrated goats aged eighteen months to two years can fetch a price of 15 to 20 thousand rupees based on their weight. Goats are sold for meat in Babiyachaur, Tatopani, and Beni bazaar. Goats and kids are also taken to the religious site of Malika for sacrifice. Farmers who raise goats in similar numbers also come to buy kids.

Pun started his business by establishing the Hindi Goat Farming Farm in BS 2078. To improve the breed of the local Jamunapari goats and produce kids, he has raised an improved Boer breed buck. Pun's experience is that kids from the Boer buck, due to improved breeding, grow faster and gain more weight, making it easier to increase income.

The Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Services Center provided a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the construction of a well-managed shed for the goats on the farm. Mangala Rural Municipality provided one improved Boer breed buck with 75 percent subsidy. Pun stated that the loan of Rs 10 lakh taken during the establishment of the farm has already been repaid by selling goats and kids.

Inside the goat shed, there are separate rooms for goats, bucks, castrates, and kids of different age groups. Pun, who practices stall-fed goat farming, cultivates perennial fodder grass for feed. Pun said he plans to expand the grass cultivation and further manage and continue the goat farming.