Success Story: From Foreign Employment Deception to Goat Farming Triumph
Myagdi, 03 Aug: Jag Bahadur Phagami from Ramche Kafal Danda, Annapurna Rural Municipality-8, Myagdi, has become self-reliant through goat farming after returning from foreign employment.
Phagami worked in Malaysia for three years, but the company deceived him by not paying his wages. Disheartened, he returned to his village and began goat farming.
“After the harsh experience abroad, I came back to the village and bought a single goat to support my family through farming. When the goat gave birth to twins repeatedly, the number of goats gradually increased. Later, I bought 53 goats from the Ramche Baba Group for NPR 200,000 and started commercial goat farming,” said Phagami.
He now stands as a prime example of how one can become self-reliant by utilizing local resources, labor, and skills effectively.
For the past six years, Phagami has been managing and commercializing goat farming under the banner of Sutare Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Farm, which currently has 150 goats. Among them, 40 are breeding does.
He sells goats, bucks, and kids, especially during festivals and religious ceremonies. Phagami shared that most of his products are sold directly from the shed and barn.
According to Jag Bahadur Phagami, his goat farming venture generates a monthly income of NPR 40,000 to 50,000.
Along with Phagami and his wife, their son and daughter-in-law are also actively involved in the care and management of the goats. Additionally, they have employed one person to take the goats to grazing areas.
During the winter season, the goats are fed in the fields of Besi to produce natural manure. Once summer begins, they are taken to the highland forest areas like Dharuwa, Dhaolapara, and Sandhikhark for grazing.
Having become self-employed and self-sufficient through goat farming, Phagami now plans to start sheep farming as well. To scale up the business, the capacity of the goat shed has been expanded.
In the fiscal year 2081/082 (2024/25), Annapurna Rural Municipality provided a grant under the livestock shed construction program. With this support, a shed capable of accommodating around 300 goats has been built. According to Phagami’s son, Raju Phagami, they combined the NPR 166,000 grant with their own labor and additional financial investment, bringing the total construction cost to approximately NPR 350,000.
The entire family has committed to goat farming, as goats mature quickly and generate higher income compared to other livestock.
Though they also cultivate potatoes and other grains, the primary source of household income has been goat farming. Despite setbacks from diseases affecting the goats in earlier days, the family persisted. Their resilience and dedication have been key to their current success.
The Phagami family believes that ensuring a reliable market for selling goats and kids would help further commercialize and expand their business.
