Retired army man making good income from poultry farm

By Amar Raj Naharki,Tanahun, Oct.1; Basanta Bahadur Khadka, a dedicated farmer of Bhanu Municipality-6 in Tanahu, stands as an inspiring figure.

Khadka has been successfully running layer poultry farming, ensuring a reliable income stream through consistent supply of eggs.

With his hard work and determination, Khadka managed to provide quality education for both of their daughters—one pursuing a career in medicine as a doctor, while the other embarked on the path of engineering.

Khadka has been covering the educational expenses of his children through layer poultry farming.

While numerous Nepali youths choose to leave their villages and seek opportunities abroad, Khadka finds satisfaction in his occupation.

Khadka starts his day at 5 o’clock in the morning by gathering the freshly laid eggs and carefully arranging them in crates.

After tending to the chickens by providing them with feed, he loads the egg crates onto a scooter to sell them in Damauli, the headquarters of Tanahun.

On his way back from the market, he ensures to bring back sacks of chicken feed.

Following his retirement from the Nepal Army, Khadka ventured into farming.

Unlike many who might choose to waste their time idly after receiving a pension, Khadka dedicates his entire day to agriculture, working diligently from morning until evening. He takes pride in his daily routine.

He can cover his children’s education expenses through his pension and selling his land. However, he takes pleasure in farming.

Khadka has been raising a breed of chickens which can lay up to 3,000 eggs in their lifetime.

He has set an example, demonstrating that engaging in the agricultural occupation in Nepal has the potential to generate a significant income.

Khadka mentioned that by selling eggs from 3,000 chickens, amounting to a monthly value of Rs. 900,000, he is able to save Rs. 100,000 per month.

He said that real farmers would greatly benefit if the government provided fodder and subsidies.

Khadka also suggested exploring a more effective approach to providing subsidies, expressing concern that the current method leads to the wastage of government’s investment.

He shared that he has invested Rs. 10 million to set up a poultry farm.

Khadka said the government should promote maize cultivation in barren land in villages because such efforts would contribute significantly to achieving self-reliance in grains.

If the government focuses on facilitating easy access to loans for the production of goods and ensures fair pricing of these products, the nation could attain self-sufficiency in food.

Additionally, he believes this approach could create job opportunities for the youth within the country.

If the government focuses on facilitating easy access to loans for the production of goods and ensures fair pricing of these products, the nation could attain self-sufficiency in food, he said.

Additionally, he believes this approach could create job opportunities for the youth within the country,

Khadka has run the poultry farm in 35 ropanis of land and he has constructed poultry structures in five ropanis of land.

His elder daughter, Sandhya Khadka, is currently studying in 4th year of her MBBS, while his younger daughter, Rekha Khadka, is pursuing her 3rd year in Civil Engineering.