Rearing high-breed cattle and forming a dairy group have proven to be a gainful step for farmers in Gongthung village under Yangnyer Gewog, Trashigang. For the 120 members of Druk Chikthun Nyamley Tshogdey, a dairy group, milk has now become the main source of income.
One of the members of Druk Chikthun Nyamley Tshogdey is a 49-year-old Karma.
Every morning, she carries fodder for her six cows from her farm.
Besides local fodder, she also depends on imported feed.
She feeds and cleans the cows, tidies the shed, and then milks them. Karma says maintaining hygiene is important since dairy farming is her family’s main source of income. On average, she collects more than 40 litres of milk every day.
Karma said, “Before, we used to face money shortages and worked as daily wage labourers. But after starting Jersey farming, we no longer face such problems. After deducting feed costs, I earn around Nu 40,000 monthly, and I can still save at least Nu 5,000 for my family.”
Members of the dairy group rear about 1,200 Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cows.
Farmers deliver milk to the local chilling station, where the quality is checked daily, before it is sent to the milk collection centre in Gongthung.
The centre receives over 1,400 litres of milk every day, making it the highest milk-producing group in Trashigang.
Koufuku International’s milk-collecting vehicle collects milk daily from Gongthung and transports it to the dairy processing plant in Chenary.
Farmers supply milk to Koufuku International at Nu 39.5 per litre.
Druk Chikthun Nyamley Tshogdey’s Chairperson Gyeltshen said, “When it comes to income, our group earns about Nu 1.2 to 1.3 M monthly. Individually, members earn between Nu 10,000 and 52,000 depending on the quantity of milk supplied.”
With dairy farming now providing a steady income and improving livelihoods, members of the group say they are determined to further expand milk production and sustain the cooperative in the years to come.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
