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My Journey to Transform Goat Farming in Nepal and Empower Local Communities


Goat farming in Nepal transcends mere income generation. It is a powerful way to uplift local communities and create self-reliance. My involvement in this endeavor began years ago when I saw firsthand the potential of goats as agents of change. Thanks to my association with the Himalayan Tribal Community Development Nepal organization (HTCDN), and its executive director, Raju Bhitrakoti, I explored goat farming's many nuances, I uncovered not just a path for financial improvement for individual families, but also a means to strengthen community bonds and resilience.


Executive Director of HTCDN and Project Coordinator for TNMC Raju Bhitrakoti and his wife Sanju
Executive Director of HTCDN and Project Coordinator for TNMC Raju Bhitrakoti and his wife Sanju

The Initial Spark of Inspiration


My passion for goat farming ignited during a conversation I had with Raju while visiting rural regions located in the Chitwan, Lalitpur, and Kathmandu. There, I witnessed families grappling with financial hardships, especially the need to provide nutrition to families. Many relied on unpredictable crops vulnerable to harsh weather patterns; others relied on day labor for minimum wages. However, a few families in these regions had the opportunity to benefit from goat farming.


Goats are incredibly versatile and can thrive in diverse environments. They require minimal initial investment, making them a viable option for families with limited resources. In fact, families that transitioned to goat farming reported a 60% increase in their income within the first year. This realization became a pivotal moment in my journey with Raju toward transforming goat farming in Nepal.


Understanding the Community Needs


After various conversations with Raju on how to implement a goat farming project. I set out to learn more about how my organization, Thirst No More Corporation (TNMC) could better serve communities in this part of the world. Initial research on Raju's part revealed significant challenges: limited access to veterinary services, insufficient feed resources, and a lack of education around farming best practices. It became clear that merely providing goats would not suffice. Raju and I needed to collaborate with the community to understand their unique circumstances fully.


Eye-level view of a small herd of goats grazing in a lush green pasture
The first three goats used for our goat farming project in Chitwan, Nepal

Building a Sustainable Model


Fueled by invaluable insights from the community, I eagerly embarked on building a vibrant and sustainable goat farming model! This plan brilliantly combined local wisdom with cutting-edge farming practices.

An exciting element was selecting 5 families as our initial test studies for the program. With Raju's enthusiastic support, I crafted a dynamic strategic plan that covered everything from materials for constructing goat pens to veterinary services, three starter goats, and other essential expenses.

Draft Budget For Estimated Expenses Per Family
Draft Budget For Estimated Expenses Per Family

Exciting news! We've successfully launched goat farming programs for the first three families, and we're eagerly working towards completing the test studies with two more families. Our initial 3 families are already reaping the incredible benefits of goat farming as a powerful path to economic growth and stability. They've doubled the number of goats they care for, and the fantastic advantages of sustainability are already shining through! We're thrilled to announce our future plans to expand this program, aiming to support over 1.800 families in these regions! We believe this is one of the most affordable ways to make a tremendous impact in these areas of Nepal, with an investment of less than $600 (USD) per family. Learn more about how you can support this from my friends at Global Giving: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/empower-communities-in-nepal-through-goat-farming/


Emotional and Economic Empowerment



Challenges and Resilience


The main challenge I've faced has been raising the necessary funds to support our first 5 families, but this has become a passionate pursuit for me as I journey through the latter half of my life. Being in the hills with families like those featured in this narrative has fueled my desire to leave a meaningful legacy in this area. Raju has been an incredible partner throughout this process, and his family has welcomed mine with open arms and genuine compassion. Through stories like this, I hope the reader can feel my deep affection for a people often left without employment and food due to monsoons that literally wash away the roads in these rural areas. I've truly fallen in love with the people who embraced my wife and me, making Nepal feel like a home away from home. With this in mind, I'm excited to share a second link from my friends at DonorSee, where you can see the need for our fourth family in the initial program https://donorsee.com/project/26706?share=1


Raju Bhirakoti Interviewing Our Fourth Goat Farming Candidate

A Vision for the Future


My journey with goat farming in Nepal has been revolutionary—not just for me, but for the families I have had the honor to support. The benefits of empowered communities, coupled with enhanced farming practices, highlight agriculture's potential to drive social change.


Looking ahead, I aim to expand our program and integrate more families into our model. Developing supply chains to distribute our goat products beyond local markets is a priority. By forming additional partnerships with organizations focused on promoting rural agriculture, we can create a sustainable ecosystem for goat farming that respects both the environment and the people. In order to reach our goal for at least eighteen hundred families, we will need to raise a total of $1,080,000 (USD). We hope to achieve this goal within the next five years. Anyone who has corporate or faith institution resources that would like to partner we me and TNMC can reach me by email at mac@thirstnomorecorp.org or by phone at +1 667-401-7698.


Final Thoughts


Goat farming in Nepal serves as much more than a source of income; it symbolizes community empowerment, resilience, and economic growth. Each goat is a beacon of hope, dignity, and a brighter future.


Reflecting on my journey, I feel grateful for the chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of so many. If you're looking to support this cause, know that your involvement can lead to tangible transformations. Together, we have the power to cultivate a thriving future for goat farming in Nepal, establishing lasting benefits for generations to come.


I invite you to accompany us on this journey toward empowerment and sustainability, as we strive to reshape not just agriculture, but the very fabric of our communities.

Mac With Residents In Chitwan, Nepal
Mac With Residents In Chitwan, Nepal

 
 
 

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