Animal husbandry is flourishing commercially in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality of Banke, which is the largest local level in the country in terms of territory and population.
According to the rural municipality, the number of people engaged in animal husbandry and so on has been increasing day by day after seeing the high income of those who are involved in animal farming.
Chairman of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality Lahuram Tharu said that animal husbandry business has been growing in the municipality for the last few years. He said that there are around 400 people who are engaged in animal husbandry or related businesses by registering the farm.
Stating that this municipality has become a pocket area for goat rearing, he said that about 25,000 goats are reared in his municipality even now.
He claimed that the animal husbandry business had flourished as the local government has been providing all kinds of assistance and suggestions to the farmers engaged in animal husbandry.
Chief of the Veterinary Services Branch of the Rural Municipality Jaya Bahadur Karki said that the municipality had emphasised on livestock rearing based on the desire of the local farmers.
According to him, not only animal husbandry but also free medicines are being distributed to protect the animals from communicable diseases. The branch is running a medicine distribution and vaccination programme frequently.
About nine cow farms, 26 buffalo farms and 102 goat farms have been registered in the rural municipality so far, said Karki. There are 35 pig farms, 40 poultry farms and four fish farms.
Similarly, there are 74 meat shops, two dairies, four milk collection centres and one grain outlet have been registered in the rural municipality.
The Veterinary Service Branch of the rural municipality has been providing vaccines at different times keeping in view the demand of the livestock farmers and also organising training to make the farmers professional.
According to Dhani Kumari Khatri, vice-chairperson of the rural municipality, about 25,000 goats have been reared in Rapti Sonari area alone. As women’s participation in goat rearing is high, they are moving towards self-reliance, she said.
Source : TRN,
