Rearing cattle for livelihood has become a lot easier for the farmers of Nanong and Raling Chiwog in Pema Gatshel. They now have a milk processing unit in the Chiwog. Farmers there depend on rearing cattle as one of the main sources of income. However, the process was time-consuming and laborious without such a facility until now.
Raling Milk Processing Unit in Nanong Chiowg is run by Nanong Raling Gonor Wongbab Detshen. It has been in operation for almost a month now making lives easier for the farmers.
The dairy group members say they can feel their workload reduced besides seeing an increase in profit.
“We have to spend more than an hour churning the milk. Now, after bringing our milk here at the MPU, we get enough time to work on our farm, collect firewood and do other works,” said Tshomo, a member of Nanong-Raling Gonor Wongbab Detshen.
“Now, we don’t have to take the time to churn milk. We can now spend that time doing other work,” said Cheda, another member of Nanong-Raling Gonor Wongbab Detshen.
Besides, benefiting the members and the villagers, the Milk Processing Unit has helped create employment opportunities for young people.
“We are happy as the group has given us such an opportunity. If they are willing to keep me for long, I can work better for the group,” said Ugyen Wangchuk, a staff of Nanong-Raling Gonor Wongbab Detshen.
The unit also ensures that dairy products are produced hygienically and the farmers earn better prices.
The members have expressed their interest in supporting the unit by increasing the quantity of milk supply. They plan to achieve this by increasing the number of good-bred cattle in the future.
“We face difficulty in selling our produce when we produce dairy products at our homes. Now, we are thinking of increasing the number of cattle,” added Cheda.
“The government has supported us with such a facility and we think it is better for us. We are thinking of supplying more milk to the unit,” added Tshomo.
The unit currently has over 90 members from Nanong and Raling Chiwogs.
The milk processing unit collects more than a 100 litres of milk every day, producing six kilograms of butter and 12 kilograms of cheese every day.
Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme provided more than Nu 3 M to construct the unit, and the district administration and gewog funded the procurement of the equipment worth over Nu 2 M.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Phub Gyem
