Farmers Face Hardship Transporting Yaks and Sheep for Dashain Festival Amidst Road Blockades

Myagdi. Four farmers, including Sanjay Bik, who set off from Mugu to sell yaks and sheep for Dashain, arrived in Galeshwor, Myagdi, on Friday evening after a arduous 36-day journey. Their journey was extremely difficult due to adverse weather, snowfall, and road blockades. They are worried about not being able to sell on time even after reaching the market after a long journey. Bik's team from Chhayanath Rara Municipality-6 in Mugu brought 200 yaks and sheep. Of these, 100 were raised at their own home and 100 were purchased from neighbors. They left home on September 3rd with the aim of selling them in Pokhara for Dashain. "This year, we faced a lot of trouble due to adverse weather and the blockade of the Beni-Jomsom road connecting Mustang," Bik said. "We were stopped for a week due to snowfall in Chharka, Dolpa. We finally reached Galeshwor after 36 days of leaving home." Their plan is to load the yaks and sheep onto vehicles from Galeshwor on Saturday and take them to Pokhara. However, with Dashain approaching, they are concerned about the demand and sales in the market. "It's already late. Now we are worried whether they will be sold in the market or not," Bik said. Seven farmers, including Manprasad Rokaya from Kaike Rural Municipality-2 in Dolpa, have also set off for Pokhara with 700 yaks and sheep. They left for Pokhara, Kaski, via Ghorepani in Myagdi on Friday. Rokaya's team has been on the road for 22 days. Since yak and sheep farming is their main occupation, they travel to various markets for sale every year. However, this year, floods and landslides have added to their difficulties. The floods and landslides that occurred after the rains from October 8th to 11th blocked the Myagdi section of the Beni-Jomsom road. This affected both the herding of yaks and sheep and transportation by vehicles. Some farmers had to walk long distances. The delay in reaching the market is due to the condition of the road. Sanjay Buda from Sahrataara, Kaike Rural Municipality-2, Dolpa, is also heading to Pokhara to sell 160 sheep after walking for 25 days. It is not easy to herd sheep raised in areas above 4,000 meters above sea level. "Herding sheep through cliffs, ravines, and narrow paths to bring them to market and sell them is our traditional occupation," he said. Farmers Face Hardship Due to Road Blockades As Dashain approaches, yaks and sheep from the mountainous regions have started descending to the markets. However, adverse weather and road blockades have caused problems for farmers and traders this year. There is activity from Jomsom to Beni by farmers and traders bringing yaks and sheep from Dolpa, Jumla, and upper Mustang. Yaks and sheep brought to Galeshwor via the Beni-Jomsom road from Mustang are being loaded onto trucks and containers and sent to cities like Pokhara and Kathmandu. However, Lalmani Aryal, chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, Mustang, said that due to the snow-covered road from Dolpa to Mustang, not all farmers from there could bring their yaks and sheep to the market. With the Tatopani and Rasuwa check points closed, Mustang has become the main route for supplying yaks and sheep to big cities this year. Arrangements have been made to conduct health checks of yaks and sheep in Jomsom and issue permits for export. According to office chief Aryal, health check permits have been issued for 10,000 yaks and sheep so far. Last year, 18,000 yaks and sheep were exported. Costs Increased The long journey has increased the expenses of farmers and traders. Traders say it has been difficult to contact farmers due to the disruption of road, electricity, and communication services in Mustang. According to Dekbahadur Chokhal of Benipatta-9, it was difficult to purchase yaks and sheep as road, electricity, and communication services were disrupted in Mustang from the second week of October. "We couldn't bring the yaks and sheep as desired because we couldn't contact the farmers," he said. Traders said that yaks are being bought and sold in Mustang for Rs 32,000 to Rs 35,000 per head depending on size, and sheep for around Rs 40,000 per head. In Beni, a yak costs around Rs 36,000 per head and a sheep costs Rs 45,000, according to Yam Bahadur Baniya of Toripani, Benipatta-9. "Sheep aged five years are considered suitable for meat," he said. "Despite the high price, there is a tradition of eating meat from sheep that have grazed on herbs in the high mountains during Dashain." The main markets for Mustang yaks and sheep are Pokhara and Kathmandu. There is also demand in Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Syangja, Tanahu, and Lamjung, said Prem Chhantyal, a goat trader from Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality-7. Mountain Farmers Depend on Sheep Farming Tenjing Gurung, a farmer from Namgyal, Mustang, said that yak and sheep farming is his main source of income. Approximately 50,000 yaks and sheep are raised in the Waragung Muktikshetra, Gharpaong, Loghekar Damodarkunda, and Lomanthang rural municipalities of Mustang. Yak and sheep farming is the main source of income for farmers in upper Mustang. The wool from the body of the sheep is used as raw material for pashmina. However, there are many challenges in yak and sheep farming. It is difficult for farmers to protect livestock from snow leopards and wolves. Due to insufficient snowfall, grass grows less in the alpine regions, leading to a lack of fodder. Due to excessive snowfall in winter, sheep and goats die due to lack of fodder. Farmers bring yaks and sheep from the mountains with the hope of earning their year's income from the Dashain market. However, this year, adverse weather and road blockades have prolonged their journey. The long-distance walk, additional expenses, and delay in sales are increasing concerns about the impact on farmers' income.