Khotang: In this festive season, the Barahapokhari Rural Municipality in Khotang district has exported goats worth Rs 17.5m to Kathmandu.

A total of 875 goats were dispatched to Kathmandu by five different groups of intermediaries, solidifying the rural municipality’s reputation as a thriving hub for goat farming.

Ashish Banjara, the Chief of the Livestock Section of the rural municipality, disclosed that the total value of the goats exported from the rural municipality exceeds Rs 17.5m, with an estimated rate of Rs 20,000 for each goat.

The intermediaries made direct visits to farmers' homes to acquire the goats, enabling some farmers to earn up to Rs 600,000 each through these sales.

The transportation of these goats to Kathmandu took place on Oct 18 and 19 from Khotang district, with some farmers themselves taking their goats to Gaighat in Udayapur district for sale.

Officials and members of the business community have noted that a significant number of high-value he-goats were exported from Khotang to other districts during this festive season, further establishing goat farming as a profitable venture.

Nevertheless, there is potential for even greater profits if the local government focuses on developing a more robust supply chain for goods produced in the district.