Morang top dairy producer of the east

BIRATNAGAR, Jan 8:

Morang tops the list of district in Eastern Development Region in terms of dairy production.

According to Regional Directorate of Livestock Production, Biratnagar, Morang produced 129,384 tons of milk in 2013/14 to overtake Ilam which was the largest dairy producer of the region in 2012/13.

Ilam produced 116,086 tons of milk in 2013/14, followed by Jhapa (82,353 tons), Udayapur (62,159 tons) and Siraha (56,960).

Officials of the directorate said eastern region has become self-sufficient for milk. "Milk production in the region is increasing as local farmers are attracted toward livestock farming," Rabin Kumar, planning officer of the directorate, told Republica.

Statistics of directorate shows the eastern region is home to 2,612,917 heads of cows and 1,172,108 heads of buffalos.

Officials of the directorate say the region holds immense potential for milk exports. "For that to happen, the government should promote commercial livestock farming by encouraging farmers to procure cattle of improve breed," added Kumar.

The region produces 90,884 tons of chicken and 185 million units of eggs annually, according to the directorate.

Source: Republica