MAHOTTARI: Madhesh Province is on track to become self-reliant in milk production, thanks to the Rural Enterprise and Economic Development Project’s Economic Corridor Office in Bardibas, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
With grant support from the project, livestock farmers have started rearing high-yield Murrah buffaloes, known for their milk-producing capacity.
The project spans 84 local levels along the East-West Highway and the Postal Highway in Madhesh. More than 5,000 farmers in these areas are organized into 179 groups.
Of these, 110 groups have been selected for grants based on subtted business plans, and 58 have already received the first installment. Fifty of these groups are focused specifically on buffalo rearing.
“We are prioritizing action plans related to milk, meat, and vegetable production. As part of this, 50 farmer groups have begun rearing Murrah buffaloes,” said Project Chief Rajesh Sah.
“We are confident that this will lead Madhesh to milk self-sufficiency.” He added that a commercial meat production plan is also underway.
The buffalo-rearing initiative was launched only after securing milk markets and signing agreements with buyers. Farmers participating in the project have constructed cow sheds under the supervision of veterinary technicians. A Murrah buffalo can produce at least 25 liters of milk per day.
“We already have agreements on milk buyers and pricing,” said Dinesh Sah, a farmer from Siraha. “With market certainty, we can work confidently.”
Rautahat district has the highest number of farmer groups—24 in total—with each group comprising between 15 and 50 farmers. More than 1,400 farmers are currently affiliated with these groups.
Collectively, they are producing about 20,000 liters of milk daily. On average, each farmer earns around Rs 24,000 per month.
The project provides a 45% subsidy on the total cost of each business plan, while the remaining 55% is covered by the farmers’ groups.
In addition, the project has constructed 35 integrated service centers equipped with modern facilities at a cost of Rs 910 million. These centers offer soil and manure testing, organic farming labs, veterinary treatment, and technical advisory services to livestock and poultry farmers across the province.
Comment