Goat and sheep sales surge in Dhangadhi, sringing festive joy to farmers

Dhangadhi: With the onset of Dashain, farmers from Chure Rural Municipality in Kailali are witnessing a surge in the demand for goats and sheep in Dhangadhi, bringing smiles to their faces.

Farmer Jeevan Thapa, who has up to 150 goats in his pen, said the increased demand in urban areas has finally paid off his hard work and investment in goat farming. “Since there is not much demand in the village, I bring goats and sheep to the city to sell. The demand is good, and the income is making it easier to meet household expenses,” he said. Live goats are currently being sold at Rs 550 per kilogram.

Thapa has brought 80 goats to Dhangadhi for itinerant trade. He noted that goat farming, along with fruit and vegetable cultivation, is the main source of income for farmers in Chure Rural Municipality. However, he expressed concern over the growing problem of tigers preying on goats taken to graze in forests.

Farmers in Chure typically raise between 20 and 150 goats in pens. Trader Durga Bahadur Khamjali said the area supplies goats and sheep to traders as far as Kathmandu and Pokhara. He added that while demand spikes during Badadasain, the tradition of animal sacrifice is gradually declining, and the number of vegetarians is increasing, leading to lower demand compared to the past.

Despite being declared a pocket area for goat farming by the government, farmers complain of receiving no support beyond paying taxes as registered firms. “The government declares pocket areas but does not provide any assistance,” many farmers lament.

Alongside goat farming, farmers in Chure Rural Municipality also rely on fruit, ginger, and turmeric cultivation as their main sources of income.