BHOJPUR: Sheep farmers in Bhojpur district say their livelihoods are under serious threat due to shrinking pastureland and frequent attacks by stray dogs.
Veteran farmer Govinda Khathet, 72, who has been engaged in sheep husbandry for decades, said the twin challenges have forced nearly 20 farmers in the area to abandon sheep rearing over the past two years.
“We have to pay to graze our sheep in community forests. Many farmers have already switched to other professions because of the shortage of grazing land. On top of that, stray dogs are killing our sheep and causing heavy losses,” Khathet said.
Currently, only 18 to 20 commercial sheep farmers remain in the Maiyung area, which spans across Bhojpur and neighboring Khotang. Farmers warn that without state intervention, sheep farming could vanish altogether from the region.
According to locals, seven community forests in Maiyung charge farmers between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000 annually for access to grazing land. The fee is applied for the full year even if the sheep graze there for only three months.
“Rates differ depending on the community forest, since each has its own rules,” said farmers.
The issue is compounded by stray dogs, which have become a major hazard. Another farmer, Sher Bahadur Kathet, said around 100 sheep were killed in the area by stray dogs in just the past six months. “The local government must take measures to control stray dogs if sheep farming is to survive here,” he said.
Sheep husbandry is considered an important source of livelihood in the high hills of Bhojpur and Khotang, as farmers benefit from wool, ghee, and other products. However, without grazing support and protection from predators, many fear the tradition could soon disappear.
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