Halkarapurwa: A village of 34 families raising over 600 buffaloes

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Apr. 16: Halkarapurwa village, located in Duduwa Rural Municipality-3, has emerged as a leading buffalo-rearing village in Banke District. 

Despite having only 34 households, all from the Yadav community, the village is home to more than 600 buffaloes.

It is rare to find a household in the village that does not rear buffaloes. For this reason, locals have started calling Halkarapurwa a “milk-producing village”. Around 600 litres of milk are supplied daily from the village to the nearby Nepalgunj market.

Ramsohan Yadav, 60, owns the largest number of buffaloes in the village. He has around 150 buffaloes, including calves, of which 52 are milking buffaloes. From his household alone, about 300 litres of milk is transported daily to Nepalgunj via the Kamdi Milan Chowk market.

Yadav said that all family members -- from children to daughters-in-law and grandchildren -- are involved in managing the buffaloes and milk production. His day begins at 3 am and continues until late evening, revolving entirely around buffalo rearing, a profession he has continued for generations.

Younger people in the village are also increasingly drawn to buffalo farming. Bishnu Prasad Yadav, 31, keeps 19 buffaloes. He said that the income from buffalo farming is higher than jobs in Nepal or abroad. “Unlike jobs where you must follow orders, this is our own work, and we are happy doing it,” he said.

Another local youth, Rampheran Yadav, is rearing 37 buffaloes. He said the work feels easier and more reliable as he has been involved in it since childhood and it brings a good income.

Farmers in the village are now increasingly shifting from local breeds to Murrha buffalo, known for higher milk production. Rampheran Yadav said he bought a Murrha buffalo for Rs. 150,000. 

Although expensive, he said that the higher milk yield helps recover the investment quickly. His household alone produces over 50 litres of milk daily.

Despite large-scale buffalo farming and milk production, farmers in Halkarapurwa said they are still deprived of government support. Local farmer Dinesh Prasad Yadav said that subsidies meant for farmers have yet to reach them.