Fikkal (Ilam), Saun 22 — While dairy farming is often seen as a traditional and low-income occupation in rural Nepal, Gopal Acharya of Rungsung, Suryodaya Municipality–3, Ilam, is proving otherwise. By adopting a commercial and systematic approach to the business, Acharya now earns a monthly income of approximately NRs 350,000 from his dairy farm.
Acharya runs the Panchamrit Cow Farm, which currently generates between NRs 288,000 and NRs 360,000 per month solely from milk sales. The farm produces 160 to 200 liters of milk daily, sold at NRs 60 per liter to the nearby Panchamrit Dairy Industry.
He launched the enterprise in 2070 BS (2013 AD) with a loan of NRs 1 million from Rastriya Banijya Bank. What began as a small venture with no prior experience has now grown into a modern farm housing 34 cows — 12 of which are currently lactating, while the rest are in calving stages. A separate shed has also been constructed for calves.
“When I started, I thought I’d simply milk cows and sell the milk,” Acharya recalled. “But over time, I realized the business had much greater potential. Experience taught me everything.”
Over the years, Acharya has reinvested his earnings back into the farm. To date, around NRs 3 million has been invested in infrastructure and resources. He estimates the current value of the farm to be close to NRs 10 million. He also used farm revenue to purchase a pickup truck, which is now used to transport milk to the dairy in the mornings and feed for the cows in the afternoons.
With the support of his family, Acharya has also created local employment. The farm currently employs two workers for daily operations and a driver for the pickup vehicle. He spends approximately NRs 42,000 per month on salaries alone.
To support his dairy operations, Acharya cultivates fodder on 200 ropani (roughly 10.2 hectares) of land — 70 ropani of his own and 130 ropani on lease. He grows Super Napier grass on 20 ropani, Amriso (broom grass) on 40 ropani, and various native grasses on the remaining land.
In addition, Acharya earns approximately NRs 100,000 annually by selling organic compost made from cow dung, which is purchased primarily by local tea cooperatives and tea farmers.
His farm has also received some government support. Two years ago, the Koshi Province Government provided NRs 250,000 in grants to purchase a milking machine, while Suryodaya Municipality contributed NRs 20,000 for improving the cattle shed.
However, the journey has not been without setbacks. Acharya lost 14 cows to Lumpy Skin Disease and received only NRs 40,000 in insurance compensation. He expressed disappointment over the lack of further government assistance. “That was the only relief I received,” he said. “But I haven’t lost hope. I plan to expand the business even further.”
Acharya believes that success and self-employment are possible without going abroad. “I wanted to show that with the right skills and commitment, youth can stay in Nepal and thrive in their own communities,” he said. “My goal was to inspire unemployed youth to pursue self-employment here. I’m close to repaying my initial bank loan, and next year, I plan to add more cows to the farm.”
