Pig farming after Master’s Degree graduation

Sher Bahadur Sarki / Bajura, Apr. 25: Tilak Joshi, a resident of Budhiganga Municipality, Bajura, has started pig rearing after returning to the village after completing Master’s degree.

His daily diary starts from a pig farm nowadays. He arrives at the farm early in the morning, feeds the piglets and cleans the cage.

This routine of his has been going on for almost three years. Joshi, who has just returned hometown after completing his degree, is happy to be engaged in pig rearing business in his own village.

“My family members have engaged in pig rearing, everyone is happy. I started the business after seeing the good potential of pig rearing in the village,” said Joshi. Joshi, a resident of Deumandau, Budhiganga Municipality-10, Bajura, said, “It has been almost three years since I came home from Kathmandu after completing my study. Most of the educated youth like me are migrating to India in search of jobs. But, I have been very busy in this business since I came to the village after finishing my studies.”

He has the experience of earning a good income from this business.

He said that the investment has reached Rs. 1.5 million where the business had started from around Rs. 400,000. Joshi said that there is a plan to increase investment by expanding the farm in the future.

The farm has three mothers, one male, one ready for meat and 10 piglets.

He said that up to 100 kg of pig can be produced in eight months to a year if they are fed properly.

He shared his experience that if he could manage the grain, it would be a good business to earn money.

According to Joshi, pork is being sold in Betalmandau, Rita, Dab and Malika markets. He said that it cost more to feed pigs as they eat more.

He said that he can earn around Rs. 100,000 if sold up to 10 pigs.

It used to sell a kg of pig’s meat at Rs. 160 in Bajura but now it is sold at Rs. 350 per kg in a meat shop.

He said that he was unable to supply pigs as per the market demand. “If we can produce as per the demand, we will earn a lot from the business,” said Joshi.

His father Bhola Ram Joshi is a member of the ward. He has also been raising chickens.

Poultry farming has made it easier for two sons and a daughter to get higher education, said his father Bhola Ram Joshi.

Joshi’s father Bhola Ram also helps him in his spare time.

The local government has now introduced subsidy programmes for those engaged in agriculture.

“These programmes have been giving government money to those who have misused money, not to those like us,” said Joshi.He said, “After receiving some grant assistance from the local government, I will arrange employment for other unemployed youth like me in the village.”

Farmers have become enthusiastic after the start of a pig rearing programme in the district and construction of cages, improvement of meat shops and giving necessary advice.