Goat and buffalo sales at Dharan Agricultural Produce Market, located in Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City-13, Sunsari district, Koshi Province, have increased by 15% as the Dashain and Tihar festivals approach. The market, which recorded an annual trade of approximately Rs 3 billion in the fiscal year 2082/83, is experiencing heightened activity.
Traders and farmers from the hilly districts of Koshi Province and various parts of the Terai region visit Dharan to buy and sell goats and buffaloes. While daily transactions of consumer goods and livestock occur, Thursdays and Fridays are designated as special market days for goats and buffaloes.
Market sees significant growth
Laxman Bhattarai, chairman of the Dharan Agricultural Produce Market Management Committee, stated that normally, over 3,000 goats and buffaloes are sold weekly. However, during festivals like Dashain and Tihar, this number can exceed 10,000 per week.
In the fiscal year 2082/83, the market facilitated the sale of 160,000 goats and buffaloes, generating a turnover of approximately Rs 3 billion. During last year’s festive season alone, trade reached Rs 460 million. Bhattarai anticipates a further increase in turnover this year, noting the 15% rise in transactions compared to previous years.
Established in 2053 BS and operational since 2054 BS, the Dharan Agricultural Produce Market is recognized as the best-managed goat market in Koshi Province. It provides a crucial marketplace for farmers from hilly districts and contributes significantly to local trade and employment. The market has also received multiple awards for excellent management from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Traders connect hilly regions to major cities
Dal Bahadur Kathay, a goat and buffalo trader from Dharan-14, has been in the business for 15 years. He sells livestock raised at his home and those procured from hilly districts such as Dhankuta and Panchthar. Despite the fluctuating nature of the trade, he relies on this business for his household expenses.
Chandra Khadka, a businessman from Kanepokhari, Morang, visits Dharan weekly to purchase goats and buffaloes. With 23 years of experience, he buys and sells between 100 and 150 animals at a time. Khadka distributes the livestock bought from Dharan to major cities including Kathmandu, Janakpur, Lahan, Itahari, Inaruwa, and Pokhara.
Government steps in for price control
This year, the Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTCL), a state-owned enterprise, has decided not to supply goats and buffaloes for Dashain. Jitendra Basnet, joint secretary and spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, said that the private sector would be coordinated to manage supply and meet consumer demand. Basnet also stated that market monitoring would be conducted during the festival period to control prices.
The Nepal Professional Goat Farmers Federation has demanded that the government ensure fair prices for farmers and eliminate middlemen. There are also calls for strict health checks and quality control for goats and buffaloes imported from countries like India.
The Koshi Province government’s policy and programs for the fiscal year 2081/82 include provisions for subsidized loans and interest grants for commercial animal husbandry, processing, and marketing, as well as the continuation of production-based grant programs.
As of Ashoj 13, 2083 BS (September 29, 2026 AD), the price of live goats and buffaloes in the market has reached Rs 850 to Rs 900 per kilogram. However, the exact current price per kilogram in Dharan specifically remains unclear.
