Kapilvastu Shepherds Blaze Wool Stock Amid Market Crash and Space Shortage

Kapilvastu, April 29 - A young man hailing from Madhunagar within the Vijayanagar Rural Municipality in Kapilvastu district now passes his time herding sheep. As part of the third consecutive generation in his family to raise Himalayan sheep in the Terai region, he follows in the footsteps of both his father, Lalman, and his grandfather, who were also dedicated shepherds throughout their lives.

For the past three years, though, Laxman has encountered challenges in his sheep farming venture, particularly with disposing of the wool. Unable to find buyers, he accumulated large quantities at home until last week when he had to burn three quintals of it out of desperation.

"When I was about 4 or 5 years old, I began tending to sheep, which prevented me from getting an education. Previously, we used to earn approximately Rs40,000 per year from selling wool. However, over the last three years, with no sales at all, burning it became my only option," he explained.

Another villager named Punnawasi Pal, who like him has raised sheep for three generations, set fire to two metric tons of wool. Previously, he would make around Rs 50,000 annually from wool sales.

Ironically, after putting so much effort into shearing and preserving the wool, having to burn it was devastating," he stated. "For three years, we kept waiting for traders to arrive, anticipating their arrival. However, once we exhausted our storage options, burning the wool became inevitable.

Approximately ten households in Madhunagar, which rely on sheep husbandry for their livelihood, have faced difficulties in selling their wool.

It has become challenging to handle daily household costs because the wool from their sheep, which was bred through loans and struggles, hasn’t been sold yet.

Shepherd Ramchandra Pal mentioned that besides selling live sheep, the revenue from wool sales generally assisted with covering basic needs such as salt, oil, and cereals.

Previously, wool traders used to visit homes directly to gather the wool. It’s been three years since anyone last came around. We wonder how much longer we can continue storing it all. Given that our houses have run out of storage space, setting fire to it seemed like the only solution,” he stated.

At present, these ten households possess approximately 40 to 50 quintals of unwritten-off wool. According to Laxman, 4-5 individuals have already set fire to more than six quintals of wool.

“I currently have around 50 sheep in my shed, which can go up to as many as 80 at times,” he stated. “I’ve already incinerated three quintals of wool, but I still have over three quintals leftover.” He continued, “My family of six manages within only three rooms. As the rainy season approaches with insufficient space available, I’ll be forced to dispose of the rest of the wool as well.”

Punnawasi, who owns around 200 sheep, mentioned that he has accumulated more than five metric tons of wool in a clay storage facility at his house because of limited space. He added, "I had to keep two metric tons in bags outdoors and ended up burning another couple of metric tons. As we managed to grow some wheat this season, we have to clear out the storage area to make room for it."

In Madhunagar village, farmers have bred over a thousand sheep. Within ward 11 of Krishnanagar Municipality, there are two families who own more than 200 sheep apiece. The wool obtained from these sheep is commonly utilized for crafting various cold-weather garments like blankets, jumpers, and hats.

Nevertheless, local inhabitant Ramakant Chaudhary pointed out that the introduction of contemporary synthetic blankets, hats, and scarves into the marketplace has considerably diminished the demand for woolen items.

He mentioned that previously, there was significant demand for woolen garments which supported numerous people’s incomes. However, now that these manufacturing plants have closed down, the need for wool has decreased. Consequently, he proposed that local administrations evaluate this scenario and implement suitable measures.

The sheep are shorn annually at three different periods: from June to July, October to November, and February to March.

Lately, the pastures available for sheep in the Tarai region have decreased as well. As stated by local resident Pratap Pal, "Previously, there were numerous fields and meadows available." He further explained, "Currently, the scarcity of grazing lands is making sheep farming increasingly challenging."

In the Tarai region, sheep often have longer tails, causing locals to refrain from consuming their meat and instead treat them akin to cattle. These farmers primarily earn their living through the sale of live sheep and wool.

Indian merchants frequently come to buy live sheep, choosing healthy animals priced between Rs10,000 and Rs20,000. Nonetheless, they refrain from purchasing wool. In the Nepalese marketplace, wool typically fetches Rs130 to Rs150 per kilogram.

Even with numerous challenges, these households, which possess minimal or no agricultural land and primarily reside as renters, continue to view their prospects through sheep husbandry. Relying solely on their expertise in raising sheep, they remain steadfast in continuing this path.

The sheep aren’t confined to pens, so the farmers accommodate them overnight in adjacent vacant fields, croplands, and orchards. They take shifts protecting the flock throughout the night before guiding them out to feed at daybreak.

From July through September, during the monsoon period, they transfer their flocks to the shores of the Arra River. Then, come October, they lead these animals northward into the forests of Bhalwar within the region of Kapilvastu, where the herds graze until mid-November.

A 56-year-old man named Kashiram Gadaria mentioned that they transport their own food and bedding when undertaking these migrations. He explained, “We must travel alongside the sheep; otherwise, survival becomes impossible. If we didn’t make this journey, our kids wouldn’t eat properly and would frequently skip school, thus we have no option but to face the scorching temperatures and difficulties.” He added, “Our sole asset is our flock of sheep. There’s nothing else bringing us an income, which means continuing sheep herding is the only path forward for us.”

They usually sell their sheep to Indian traders, making an annual income of Rs 200,000 to Rs 400,000.

A local inhabitant named Bhola Gupta emphasized that to safeguard the interests of these sheep farmers, local administrations should intervene to provide assistance. He proposed that the municipal authority could purchase and promote the wool for sale, aligning with the governmental strategy of 'one local unit, one distinctive product.'

Up until now, the municipal authorities have not offered any assistance to the sheep farmers.

Nevertheless, Prahlad Thakur, who leads the Livestock Health Division of Vijayanagar Rural Municipality, recognized the farmers' worries and mentioned that they intend to collaborate with several organizations to streamline the process of selling wool.

This year, an initiative to enhance sheep shelters has been launched for the farmers. According to Rural Municipality Chairperson Gopal Thapa, talks are underway to develop supporting strategies for the shepherds.