Jumla Kanakasundari-4 resident Chakra Kami (37 years old) is a sheep breeder. He has been doing this business for about 7 years. He is the only farmer who rears commercial sheep in this area. He currently owns 50 sheep.
Before starting commercial sheep farming, Chakra worked in India. During his time there, he was engaged in various building and construction tasks, such as road and building construction, as a laborer. His father had also worked as a laborer throughout his life, facing numerous challenges. Despite working hard, Chakra’s father never received fair treatment from employers, which made him hesitant to continue labor work in India. This realization led Chakra to make the decision to return to his own country.
Returning to the village, he started working as a mason. Later, he had a sudden health problem and had to undergo an appendix operation. After the operation, he could not do heavy work that required a lot of force. Then he decided to rear the horse. But there was very little income from the horse. After seeing that the horse could not make much profit, he sold the horse and bought seven sheep. He made this decision because he believed that sheep would provide a good income. This decision was difficult for him and his family; maybe it will not support him.
Chakra’s wife, Gaurikala Sikarmi, and their family supported his decision to enter the sheep farming business. Together, they took care of the sheep and managed the feeding and grazing of the sheep. They would take the sheep to the nearby forest for grazing in the morning from 6 to 12 and in the afternoon from 2 to 6. At noon, they would rest the sheep in a shed. Chakra says, “One person can easily manage more than 100 sheep for grazing or observation.”
Facing difficulties in providing sufficient food, Chakra feeds the sheep nutritious grass, simi leaves, and cut grass from the fields. He follows traditional methods of sheep farming, avoiding the modern trend that often leads to diseases among the sheep. With the support of a Sirjana project and his continuous efforts, Chakra has modernized his sheep farming. In the improved setup, he can easily manage up to 200 sheep. The shed provides shade and protection from rain, ensuring the sheep’s health.
Chakra proudly states, “Since the modern shed was built, not a single sheep has fallen ill. The improved shed has brought happiness to our lives for years.” The project also provided him with improved-breed sheep to enhance his flock.
With the support of the project and his consistent hard work, sheep farming has proven to be profitable for Chakra. The number of sheep has increased, reaching up to 150, and he can sell a sheep for at least Rs. 20,000 or more, earning him around NPR 1,000 per kilogram when slaughtered. During festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and weddings, there is high demand for sheep, resulting in substantial earnings.
Currently, Chakra earns an annual income of Rs. 300,000 from his sheep. This income covers household expenses and easily supports the education of his four children.
In another country (India), while listening to the harsh words of the moneylender, doing hard work, and being a slave, Chakra’s life has been changed by sheep rearing. He is happy to be able to stay with his family and run his own business at home. He says, “If time allows, I aim to earn more by increasing the number of sheep, and I will always be indebted to the Srijana project.”
