Goat trade in Gulmi generates about 1 billion rupees a year

Gulmi district sees an annual turnover of nearly 1 billion rupees from the sale of goats and bucks.

According to Humakant Pandey, chief of the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Center, Gulmi, around 14,600 goats are sent out of the district to other districts every year.

He said this brings in about 262.8 million rupees annually to the district.

Of those sent outside, around 600 bucks are sold for breeding and about 14,000 for meat, the center said.

The district currently has around 200,000 goats, according to the center's data. Jamunapari, Boer and Sirohi crossbred goats are the main breeds raised in the district.

Dhurkot Rural Municipality is self-sufficient in meat, said municipal chair Bhupal Pokharel. He said live goats there are sold at around 550 rupees per kilogram and sent to cities including Butwal.

In Gulmi's local market, goat meat sells at around 950 rupees per kilogram.

Farmers' interest has grown because of quicker returns compared with other agricultural sectors and the availability of buyers at fair prices right at their homes.

The center said it has been providing technical support to farmers and groups for shed construction, purchase of improved-breed bucks, vaccines and machinery.