Kavrepalanchok district, which has achieved self-sufficiency in milk production, supplies 70 percent of its total output to Kathmandu and other districts.

According to the District Livestock Service Office, the district produces approximately 149.28 million liters of milk annually. It is currently home to 43,107 milch cows and 59,320 milch buffaloes. Of the total buffalo population, 34,340 are of local breeds, while 24,980 are improved breeds.

Dr Srija Wagle, chief of the District Livestock Service Office, said efforts are underway to gather data on the income generated in the district through milk sales.

The highest milk-producing municipalities in the district include Panauti, Banepa, Mandandeupur, and Panchkhal, the office noted.

Kavrepalanchok has a long history of dairy production, with commercial milk sales beginning in 2009 BS. The district was officially declared self-sufficient in milk in 2073 BS.

According to Narayan Prasad Badal, president of the District Dairy Producers Cooperative Association, about 70 percent of the milk produced in Kavre is supplied to other districts, while the remaining 30 percent is consumed locally. He said that 70 dairy cooperatives and over 100 individual suppliers are actively involved in milk collection across the district.

Badal estimated that the district produces around 500,000 liters of milk daily, of which approximately 300,000 liters are sent to market for sale. -- RSS