Promote Animal Husbandry

As an agrarian nation, Nepal confronts a set of paradoxes. More than 62 per cent of total population has been involved in the agriculture occupation. Despite its impressive contribution to GDP and employment generation, the sector has been highly neglected when it comes to investment in it on the part of the state. This is a reason why youths are leaving the country in droves in search of better livelihood prospects abroad. Consequently, a vast swath of arable lands have remained fallow. Unable to retain the bulk of youths at home, the country is losing both financial and human resources at an alarming rate. This trend does not bode well for the country whose strength largely lies in harnessing the demographic dividend and agriculture potential.

Most of the youths have nurtured a pessimistic narrative - they cannot do any profitable business inside the country. However, there are numerous examples that challenge such a notion. Those, who work hard with perseverance, have successfully run their business venture - be it in agriculture or in industrial sector.  According to a news report of this daily, a farmer from Syangja is earning handsome buck by raising buffaloes and cows. Bishnu Prasad Pokharel, a farmer of Phedikhola Rural Municipality-1, Mattikhan, has utilised barren land and operated the Janabiswas Agriculture and Livestock Multi-Purpose Farm. He invested Rs 4 million to buy 10 Murrah buffaloes and build a shed. His farm now consists of 180 buffaloes, including 130 advanced breeds of mother buffaloes and 50 calves. It also include 70 cows - 30 mother cows and 40 calves. 

Pokharel earns Rs 80,000 by selling 600 litres of milk every day. He also makes additional income through the sale of dung manure. Pokharel's investment in the farm has reached Rs. 70 million. It employs 15 persons – all are returning migrants. His growing animal husbandry gives a clear message to the youths who shrug at the idea of getting active in rearing animals and agro activities that have good prospect in the country with its conducive climate and geography. Animal husbandry is an integral part of agriculture. In the hilly parts of country, animals are still used to plough the land and carry loads. Where the agriculture activities are carried out for subsistence, animal rearing enables farmers to make additional incomes that meet their need for clothes, education, health and festival expenses. 

Despite all odds, animal husbandry is getting popular among the farmers. The latest data put the number of cattle at 4,750,000 and buffaloes at 3,081000. Around 2,614,000 tonnes of milk is produced annually. It is high time to modernise the agro sector. This will have positive impact on the animal husbandry that still needs capital, incentives, technical knowledge and efficient management practices.  A number of returning migrants have been involved in farm and animal husbandry. They sometimes face the shortage of inputs and difficulty in the market access. Now the government should bring attractive schemes to engage the youths in the agriculture. As the Syangja farmer has shown the way, energetic youths need to be attracted to the sector. The government should increase budget for the agriculture and provide other facilities that encourage the people to start their local ventures inside the country.