National Goat Research Programme Exports improved breed to 54 districts

October 26, Kathmandu: The National Goat Research Programme (NGRP) at Bandipur is helping farmers improve their incomes by exporting improved goat breeds to 54 districts across Nepal.

The NGRP has prioritized the improvement of goat breeds as part of its goat breed improvement program. The program produces purebred Boer kids by crossbreeding the Boer breed with the local Khari breed goats.

According to Program Coordinator Raju Kandel, the NGRP has been exporting Boer-breed goats to Tanahun, Kaski, Gorkha, Lamjung, Chitwan, and other districts.

Ten years ago, the NGRP imported 50 female and seven male Boer goats from Australia for its goat breed improvement program. The program has been providing Boer, Khari, and Saanen breed goat kids to farmers at a subsidized rate.

The NGRP currently has around 500 goats of the Boer, Saanen, Khari, Sinhal, Barbari, and Jamunapari breeds for breeding purposes. The program sells Boer goat bulls to farmers in different districts based on demand.

The NGRP also exports Saanen breed goats to 32 districts for milk and cheese production and to 22 more districts for commercial goat rearing.

Senior Technical Officer Buddhiram Acharaya said there was a high demand for Saanen breed goats for milk and cheese production. He added that goat milk was beneficial for cancer patients and is free of lactogen and has high antibodies.

Cheese made from goat milk costs Rs 3,000 per kg in the market, but the NGRP sells it for Rs 1,000 per kg.