For dairy farmers in Tsirang, finding a market for fresh milk, especially in summer, has long been a challenge. That is now changing. A private dairy enterprise has secured a supply deal with Serkar Dairy Private Limited, based in Thimphu, giving hundreds of farmers a reliable market for their milk.
Tsirang Dairy Product collects milk from more than 240 farmers across four gewogs of Tsholingkhar, Patshaling, Mendrelgang, and Pungtenchhu.
Every day, it sends 500 litres of fresh milk to Serkar Dairy Private Limited in Thimphu, where it is turned into Greek yoghurts and other high-end processed dairy products.
The Tsirang Dairy Product has signed a one-year agreement with the company to facilitate the milk supply.
“We have excess milk supply in summer. So, I went to Thimphu and arranged with Serkar Dairy Private Limited to supply excess milk from Tsirang. The arrangement was made mainly to benefit dairy farmers,” said Mon Bdr. Dhahal, the owner of Tsirang Dairy Product.
Buddha Moni Rizal from Tsholingkhar Gewog is one of the beneficiaries of the initiative. He began dairy farming around 17 years ago. He currently supplies more than 50 litres of milk every day from his four milking cows to Tsirang Dairy Product.
“Every summer, we face marketing problems. In the absence of reliable markets, we had to stock cheese, butter, and even milk at home. We could sell only limited quantities to the milk booth.”
And Buddha Moni is not alone; more dairy farmers from across the district are reaping the rewards of this new arrangement.
“It has been about a year since I came here from Dagana. As of now, we have a reliable market for milk. I collect milk from the gewog, and every dairy farmer is happy with the current market,” said Yam Lal Monger, a dairy farmer, Tsholingkhar Gewog, Tsirang.
“I sell a litre of milk at Nu 50.50. If I process the milk into butter and cheese, I don’t earn that much. I may get cheese worth Nu 30 and butter worth only Nu 5.”
With summer approaching, the Tsirang Dairy Product plans to scale up daily supplies.
“These days, milk production is low, so we are supplying only 500 litres a day. During summer, we plan to increase the supply between 1,000 and 1,500 litres and even up to 2,000 litres a day if milk production increases,” added Mon Bdr. Dhahal, the owner of Tsirang Dairy Product.
According to the Tsirang Livestock Sector, the district produced around 3,100 metric tonnes of milk last year, amounting to roughly three million litres from seven dairy groups across 12 gewogs.
Initiatives like this are expected to improve market access for dairy farmers and help improve their livelihoods.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sonam Pem
