1. Background
The Kalinchowk Cow Farm (P) Limited is in the process of developing an integrated organic cow farm in Bonch Village Development Committee (VDC) of the Dolakha district. The farm is one of the largest cattle farms in Asia. The farm is under construction. This farm will be a landmark project in the history of Nepal's agriculture development. The company has the main objective of producing at least 150,000 litres of milk daily by farming 10,000 hybrid cows. It aims to plant fodders and develop a pasture in an area of 2,000 hectares. Despite being an agricultural country, Nepal is facing a shortage of about 400,000 litres of milk daily. As per the government's reports, the country imports milk and dairy-based products worth billions of rupees every year. In addition to this, the country imports meat items and seeds amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees annually. Commercialization of the agriculture sector and the increase in its production and productivity could be a solution to this problem. Promotion of organic farming and integrated agriculture development may alone help address the problem of food insecurity in the country.
This company has envisaged the goal that is in line with Nepal's 20-year Agriculture Perspective Plan and the ongoing campaign for socio-economic transformation of the Federal Democratic Republic Nepal.
The company has been established in the Dolakha district considering the fact that the district is one of the most potential area of the country in terms of livestock farming and milk production. About 68% of the total area of the district is covered by forests and pasture land. Among the Himalayan districts in Nepal, Dolakha has the highest number of yaks and sheep. In 1957, the first livestock development farm was established in the Dolakha district itself. This district has also been famous for cheese production. This is the district where the Dolakha Dairy Development Limited has been in operation for over one decade. The dairy company, which has been established under the public-private partnership (PPP), aims to increase milk production and improve the living standard of the rural farmers.
Against this backdrop, the Kalinchowk Cow Farm has been set up to organize the rural farmers and scientifically utilize the degraded and barren land, community forests and national forests. This pilot project aim to bring about significant changes in the rural economy of the Dolakha district, which can be replicated in other parts of the country as well. From this district, a network of farmers promoting organic farming will be extended across the country.
Working for pasture cultivation
Chauri in Bonch VDC (Kandaghari) grazing around the farm area(Chauri farming is a future program of KCFRC)
2. Objectives of the company
§ Developing and promoting cow farming in Nepal in a modern and scientific way.
§ Fulfilling the gap between the demand for and supply of milk and other dairy products by promoting milk production.
§ Transferring modern technologies to the people of the grassroots level and creating more employment opportunities.
§ Developing the farm into an integrated development farm.
§ Establishing a cow breeding centre and a feeding centre.
§ Developing a seed production centre for producing cash crops such as potato, cauliflower, radish, kiwifruit, etc.
§ Strengthening the rural economy and contributing to poverty reduction.
§ Developing this integrated organic agriculture farm into a national and international-level research and study centre.
3. Special features of the project
A glimpse of Goddess Kalinchowk temple
Dolakha is a very important district from tourism point of view. Known as the 'Gate way to Mount Everest', the district boasts many historic, religious and scenic places. The project site is on the lap of the Kalinchowk Hill where there is a popular temple of the Goddess Kalinchowk. The Hill is 3,880 meters above sea level, from where one can have panoramic view of the many mountains, including Mount Everest, Mount Gaurishankar, Mount Langtang, the Tamakoshi river, the Sunkoshi river and different villages of various districts.
§ This farm itself can be a farming tourist destination.
§ Situated about 110 kilometres north-east of Kathmandu, the cow farm is linked to Asia's second largest quality magnetite mine.
§ This will be the largest cow farm in Nepal.
§ Connected with the Puspalal Highway, a yak farm can also be operated near the cow farm area.
§ This farm will have cows belonging to the Holstein-Friesian cattle.
§ This cow farm will serve as a resource centre for Nepali Holstein-Friesian cattle.
§ The cow farm will have grasses and fodder processing machines to produce livestock feed.
§ The poor and marginalized farmers will be encouraged to produce fodder. The farm will purchase the fodder from them.
§ The farm will use urine and dung of cows for producing bio-gas and organic manure.
§ Focusing on livestock farming, the firm will be a model of agricultural, forestry and ecological development.
§ The farm site itself can be a botanical garden
§ The water found in the far site is suitable for Rainbow Trout.
§ As it snows near the farm site, it can be a suitable destination for snow lovers.
§ The project site and the adjoining areas can be used for keeping various species of wildlife and fowls.
§ The cow farm will be a matter of interest for researchers from home and abroad.
