The meat business is a sensitive topic in the country. Bhutanese consume thousands of tonnes of meat every year, and most of it is imported spending billions of ngultrum. But if you plan to start a meat shop or a farm, be ready to face a number of challenges including stigmatization from society. This next report from Zhemgang shares the story of one such entrepreneur.
Novin Rai from Tsirang started rearing pigs about a year ago.
He spent about Nu 800,000 to start his commercial piggery farm which is spread over two acres of land at Yangdigang under Trong Gewog.
There is another commercial pig farm in the district, but his is the only one that supplies meat.
The 40-year-old says he ventured into pig farming after it became difficult to find a job in this slow economy.
Novin says pig farming requires significant investment in terms of infrastructure and equipment and requires a lot of patience and attention.
“Initially, I started with seven pigs and then I got another 30 pigs. The second batch is almost ready for harvest, the first harvest was done and sold within eight months.”
On average, Novin makes a profit of anywhere between Nu 50,000 to 150,000 in a month.
Additionally, he also runs poultry, fishery and cattle farms alongside his pig farm. He was able to start the integrated livestock farming with support from the Gewog livestock office.
“We do not have mixed livestock rearing farms that have cattle, piggery, fishery and poultry like him in Trong Gewog. These kinds of farms mainly help people to be self-sufficient and reduce import of livestock products,” said Mon Bdr Tamang, Livestock Extension Officer of Trong Gewog.
Novin says he faced a lot of social stigma when he started out. He shares incidences of people coming up to him and telling him to close his business as it is a sinful trade.
“I was left with no other option. I could study so I don’t have any educational background, otherwise I could have done something else. And I have to do something to sustain my wife and children.”
Novin has a wife and six daughters who also occasionally help him with works at the farm.
His pig farm is one of eleven piggeries in Zhemgang and one of two commercial pig farms in the district.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
