Pathak wins reality show ‘Milk’

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu,Feb.1: Tara Prasad Pathak has been declared the winner of the reality show ‘Milk’, Nepal’s first competitive programme for livestock farmers.

The show, broadcast every Tuesday evening on AP 1 Television, the Mero Serofero, YouTube channel, and Synergy FM, featured 20 farmers from Bharatpur Metropolitan City who were selected for their participation in cooperatives selling diversified milk products. 

The competition tested participants on their milking skills, animal care, feeding management, cleanliness of cowsheds, and the quality of milk produced. In the end, Basudev Paudel became second, Mathura Mahato became third, and Dhanmaya Bhandari received the consolation prize.

Pathak, the winner, had left other professions to dedicate himself to livestock farming. Paudel returned to livestock farming after losing millions of rupees in a scam while planning to move to the United States. Mahato, the third-place winner, turned to livestock farming after leaving the military, while 70-year-old Bhandari, the consolation prize recipient, has livestock farming as her family’s primary occupation.

According to the show’s producer, Rabin Subedi, the programme was designed to showcase skilled farmers as brand ambassadors for milk and to promote respect and dignity for livestock farming.

By combining practical competitions such as milking with assessments of animal welfare, feeding, hygiene, and milk quality, the show highlighted both the hard work and the challenges faced by today’s farmers. 

Chitwan, a district known for self-sufficient milk production, also contributed advanced cattle to the programme. The stories of farmers’ struggles and dedication were presented in an engaging way for younger audiences.

Encouraged by the positive response to the first season, Subedi stated that future seasons will involve collaboration with the Nepal government to make the programme more informative and extensive. Programme coordinator Govinda Neupane noted that the show was created to “turn farmers into idols,” illustrating how livestock farming has enabled many to achieve economic progress. 

The judging panel included Tejendra Prasad Paudel, senior agro-economist at Bharatpur Metropolitan City; Dr Shatrughan Shah, associate professor at the Agriculture and Forestry University; Bhagirath Timilsena, vice president of the Central Dairy Producers Cooperative Union; and Dr Yagyaraj Pandey, technical officer at the National Cattle Research Programme in Rampur.