Govt subsidy becomes boon to Pun to be commercial farmer

By Our Correspondent,Myagdi (Beni) Oct. 11: A youth here has started commercial pig farming after getting a government subsidy. Khim Bahadur Pun of Beni Municipality 3, Bhakimli has started rearing pigs commercially after getting a subsidy from the government.

The Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernisation Project has proved to be a boon for Pun who worried about constructing cages and buying pigs due to lack of money.

Farmer Pun said, "My dream of doing something in agriculture came true after the Pig Zone programme under the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernisation Project gave me a subsidy to build a cage."

A year and a half ago, after receiving a grant of Rs. 1.3 million from the Pig Zone programme, Pune built a modern sty at a cost of Rs. 2.1 million by adding extra money to subsidy.

There are now seven mother pigs and 50 piglets in his cage.

Pun said that if good feeding and care is provided, the weight of a pig will be 60 to 70 kg in a period of eight to nine months.

He said that pork can be sold in the market for Rs. 500 per kg.

According to the farmer, two-month-old piglets are sold at Rs. 6,000 each.

"I have experience that if we work hard, we can get a good income from pig farming. During one and a half years, I sold 40 piglets and 15 big pigs," he said.

Pun said, "Pig farming has not benefited so far. I have bought grain with the money received from selling pig. I have increased the number of pigs in my sty. It is hoped that if the piglets grow up and are ready for meat, I will get a good income from it."

Having stayed in Iraq for three years and returned to his country a decade ago, he has decided not to go abroad again with the thought of working in his village.

Pun was active in semi-underground politics from 2058-2062/63 during the People's War conducted by the then CPN-Maoist. Now, he is the vice-chairman of Beni Municipal Committee of CPN (Maoist Centre).

Along with politics, Pun has been growing bananas and oranges. There is an orange farm on five ropanies of land.

According to Pun, the annual income from orange farming is about Rs. 200,000.

He suggested that politics should be pursued by doing business and becoming self-reliant.

Corruption has increased in politics, he said, "Leaders should set an example in the society by doing some kind of business. After doing business, we will have money to spend on ourselves. That's why I have continued my occupation along with politics.''

He suggested that the leaders involved in politics should be self-reliant by means of farming.