SATV April 07, Kathmandu: Baitadi's construction entrepreneur Suresh Chand has started a goat farm in Gwallek village with an investment of Rs. 5 million. The farm currently houses 150 goats. 

Two large, modern buildings have been constructed to accommodate up to a thousand goats. To graze the goats, eight hundred ropanis of barren land has been utilised for grass farming. Six people are employed at the farm.

The agro farm, which started as a self-investment, was recently visited by the province's Minister of Agriculture, Bir Bahadur Thapa. Minister Thapa arrived in Baitadi last Thursday to conduct a field inspection of the agricultural and livestock conditions in the mountainous district of Sudurpaschim Province. Minister Thapa thanked Chand for his business initiative. 

The Gwallek Agro Private Limited, established in Dasharathchand Municipality-9, Gwallek, has goats, including local Khari breed and Sirohi and Totapari breeds brought from India. 

The weight of the advanced Sirohi breed buck in the farm is reported to be 180 kg. The Sirohi goats are characterised by their tall stature, long ears, and the average weight of adult goats ranges from 80 kg to 90 kg.

Chand mentioned that his interest in goat farming grew during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also informed that apart from two modern concrete buildings, an advanced shed has also been prepared for cow/buffalo farming. 

Within a few months, the farm will also begin the breeding of advanced cattle and buffalo.

The agro farm was set up with the aim of keeping the youth in the village, as many had been migrating abroad for employment. Chand, a category 'A' construction entrepreneur, operates a construction company that generates a handsome income from the business. However, as the village faced a shortage of young people, he decided to establish the agro farm.

Chand noted that as young people from the village began seeking employment in India and the Gulf countries, there were no youth left to attend the funeral rites of the elderly in the village. 

"The state does not have the means to immediately provide employment to the youth. The youth are migrating to the plains with limited resources. 

The population of Baitadi has reached a negative balance, and unemployed youth are leaving the village. 

In such circumstances, the only way to keep the youth in the village is through agriculture and livestock farming, which is why I established the agro farm,” he said. 

The goat farm has also started selling advanced breed bucks bred from the mother goats. Suresh Chand, the farm’s operator, mentioned that if any youth in Baitadi wishes to become self-reliant by farming goats, they can purchase Sirohi breed bucks for Rs. 25,000 rupees for breeding.