Farmers face winter migration woes

As the cold weather sets in, goat farms in the high hill areas of Bhojpur, including Maiyung, Sawne, Kimalung, Khartamchha, and Nagikharka, have been relocated to the valleys.

Farmers raising goats commercially in the hilly areas of Tyamkemaiyum Rural Municipality and Salpasilicho Rural Municipality have begun shifting their farms to lower altitudes, including locations such as Surke, Tarulbari, Koshedhunga, and Chilimdhap.

Every year, farmers move their goat herds to the valleys during winter and return to the mountains in the rainy season to escape extreme temperatures. “With the change in weather, the herds move down the valley to avoid the cold and up the mountains to escape the heat,” said Namsong Rai, a cattle farmer. “It has become colder now, so we also relocated the cattle sheds along with the herds.”

The cattle herds in this region follow a natural migratory cycle, descending to the valleys in November and returning to the mountains in February. At an average altitude of 3,300 meters above sea level, dozens of herds have been commercialized. According to 2080 data, 476 herds of cattle are maintained in 19 groups in the Maiyung area of Bhojpur alone. Tourists visiting the region often come to witness the scenic beauty of herds grazing in the pastures.

However, during winter, the Chauri valleys become inaccessible due to flooding, and most tourists prefer to use the Mundum trekking route in April, September, and October, said Pavihang Rai, the central president of the Yak Chauri Farmers Federation. “Tourists are attracted to this area because the grazing Chauri adds to the natural beauty of the landscape. They often stay in cowsheds and take home chhurpi (hardened cheese made from yak milk) as souvenirs,” he added.

Despite this, yak farming faces challenges as some local herds are migrating due to a lack of grazing land. Dendi Sherpa, a cattle breeder from Helaunchha, Bhojpur Municipality-1, explained that the formation of community forest groups has led to restrictions on grazing areas. “The forests now impose a grazing tax of Rs 11,500 per year, making it difficult to sustain yak farming,” Sherpa said. “We can no longer graze yaks freely, and this limited access is forcing some farmers out of the business.”

In the high-altitude regions, including Maiyung, which have significant potential for yak farming, farmers must pay annual grazing taxes to community forest groups. Local farmer Durgadhan Rai pointed out that taxing natural grazing areas limits livestock keepers to specific zones, increasing the challenges of raising yaks. Adding to the difficulties, the tail of the yak—highly valued for religious purposes—is becoming increasingly rare and commands a steep price in the market.