Kanchanpur achieves self-sufficiency in milk and meat production

Kanchanpur: Kanchanpur district has become self-sufficient in both milk and meat, driven by the commercial rearing of improved breeds of cows and buffaloes.

According to Information Officer Khadka Bahadur Pandey of the Veterinary Hospital and Animal Service Expert Center, the district has also attained self-sufficiency in meat following government subsidies supporting commercial animal husbandry.

The district produces 148,177 metric tons of milk annually, including 43,505 metric tons of buffalo milk and 54,817 metric tons of cow milk. Despite the annual per capita requirement of 91 liters, Kanchanpur produces 134 liters of milk per person.

In terms of meat production, the district produces 2,327 metric tons of goat meat and 4,997 metric tons of buffalo and cow meat. Additionally, 1,208 metric tons of broiler chicken and 77 metric tons of local chicken meat are produced.

Fish production has also expanded, with 1,357 metric tons harvested from 270 hectares of fish ponds and 417 metric tons from 172 hectares of natural ponds. While the annual per capita meat requirement is 14 kilograms, the district produces 14.5 kilograms per person.

“Kanchanpur has become self-sufficient in milk and meat. Products from Dodhara Chandani are exported to cities in neighboring India, while other areas supply to Kailali,” said Information Officer Pandey. He added that livestock production has increased as farmers shift to commercial practices, aided by government subsidies and growing grass cultivation.

Milk from Dodhara Chandani is exported to India due to its proximity to the border, while milk from other areas is supplied to the Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) in Kailali. Lal Bahadur Pun, coordinator of the Shree Unnat Buffalo Husbandry Block Coordination Committee in Dodhara Chandani, said their milk is sold in both India and Mahendranagar markets.

“Indian traders come here to buy milk, and some farmers also supply it to dairies in Mahendranagar,” he said. “With good income from cattle and buffalo farming, farmers have formed groups and are now engaged in commercial livestock production.”

Pun said that 41 members of the committee are involved in buffalo farming. “We earlier received a grant of Rs 7 million from the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernization Project, which made buffalo farming easier,” he said, adding that another 11 members are raising goats.

In line with the goal of advancing commercial agriculture, Krishnapur, Shuklaphanta, Beldandi, Dodhara Chandni, Bhimdatta, Bedkot, and Punarbas municipalities have been designated as buffalo farming pocket areas for the current fiscal year. A budget of Rs 4 million has been allocated for goat pocket areas in Laljhandi Rural Municipality and Belauri Municipality.