Surath Subedi of Baglung has been engaged in commercial poultry farming for 18 years.
A resident of Baglung Municipality-6, he currently operates Dhaulagiri Krishi Dana and Poultry Farm in Bhateykhola-13. Through his poultry business, he manages to save Rs 500,000 per month.
The 51-year-old farmer shared that his success has come after enduring multiple failures over the years. He has been raising chickens in Baglung for the past 10 years, having previously operated in Chitwan.
At present, his farm houses 5,500 chickens, producing around 5,000 eggs daily. “I faced many failures, but by learning from them and pushing forward, I have reached where I am today,” said Subedi. “Had I given up, I would have quit long ago. Now, I save Rs 500,000 monthly, recovering from last year’s losses when my chickens didn;t lay sufficient eggs.”
Subedi first ventured into poultry farming in Chitwan in 2063 BS, initially raising broiler chickens. However, for the past 10 years, he has been raising layer chickens. Despite experiencing continuous success in Chitwan, he was forced to return to Baglung after losing 13,000 chickens to bird flu.
“I was earning well, but the bird flu outbreak led to massive losses. I returned to Baglung disheartened,” he recalled. “Things were going well, but last year, my chickens stopped laying eggs, leading to a loss of Rs 6 million. Fortunately, I am now making up for those losses with the current profits.”
He explained that the losses occurred because older chickens stopped producing eggs.
In 2070 BS, Subedi and four others started raising layer chickens in Bhateykhola, but they now operate separate private farms. So far, he has invested Rs six million in his farm and emphasized that technical knowledge is crucial for success in agriculture.
“Last year, I raised 5,200 chicks, but only 150 laid eggs. The remaining ones did not, causing a loss of nearly Rs 7 million due to poor egg production and high feed costs,” he explained. “Poultry farming is risky, but with technical expertise, it can be highly profitable. If you have financial reserves to manage risks, losses can be minimized. Right now, I make a monthly profit of Rs 500,000, especially with the high price of eggs.”
Subedi distributes eggs to markets in Myagdi, Parbat, and Baglung using farm-owned vehicles.
However, he pointed out challenges in the agricultural sector, such as unhealthy market competition, lack of government support, and societal biases against farming. He stressed the need for continuous technical assistance to help farmers sustain their businesses.
Mrs. Shila Subedi has been a pillar of support in managing the farm. The Subedi family operates the farm on leased land, renting 22 ropanis for Rs 60,000 annually.
