Chyangras being sold for over Rs. 35,000 each in Upper Mustang

By Hari Krishna Sharma,Mustang, Sept. 18:  As demand builds ahead of the Dashain festival, Himalayan mountain goats, locally known as chyangra, are being sold at up to Rs. 35,000 in Upper Mustang. 

In Chhoser, Lomanthang Rural Municipality–1, farmer Angyal Gurung sold some of his big size goats for as high as Rs. 38,000 directly from his shed.

Traders travelled to his farm to buy the animals. Gurung, who has been raising chyangra for nearly 20 years, has already sold about 150 goats this season and brought another 150 to Jomsom for sale.

“Traders compete with each other right at the shed, so I never have trouble selling,” Gurung said. 

He owns around 500 goats but usually sells only about 300 during Dashain. He added that prices in Mustang are a little lower this year compared with the past, depending on the size of the goats.

Goats from Upper Mustang, especially from Lomanthang and Lo Ghekar Damodarkunda, are bought by local traders and then taken to neighbouring districts such as Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, and Kaski.

In Lower Mustang, Angya ‘Ngawang’ Gurung from Tiri village recently sold goats directly from his farm to a trader from Dolpa for Rs. 33,000 each, earning nearly Rs 3 million in cash. 

He plans to sell more goats during Tihar for at least Rs. 30,000 each. “The demand is always higher than what we can supply. Because of limited grazing land, I cannot keep more goats,” he explained.

Traders informed that goats from the sheds cost a little less, but farmers in Jomsom bazaar are still getting up to Rs 35,000 per goat. Normally, a mountain goat is ready to sell after two to three years.

The Mustang Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Centre estimates that more than 12,000 goats will be exported from Mustang alone for this Dashain. 

Another 5,000 goats are expected to be brought from Jumla and Dolpa. With the Korala border open now, Tibetan goats may also arrive before the festival.

According to the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Modernisation Project, about 56,000 goats are being raised by 100 registered farmers in Mustang, though many unregistered farmers also sell during the festival season.

“The trading season is in full swing. Farmers can set their own price, while we make sure the goats are healthy before they are sent to other districts,” said Dr. Lalmani Aryal, head of the Mustang Veterinary Hospital.

Experts believe these goats could be sold at Rs. 40,000 to the consumers. Traders warn that if prices are not monitored, they could go even higher.

Raised in the high Himalayas and fed medicinal herbs, Mustang’s goats are known for their delicious taste and health benefits, making them especially popular during the festival season.