Panchthar, May 21
Preparations are underway to produce cheese from yak milk during this season at factories located in Phalot and Chararate of Panchthar district. Cheese production from yak milk began two years ago in Phalot and last year in Chararate.
Local livestock farmers have become encouraged after Prime Minister Balen Shah publicly shared a photo of himself consuming Nepali cheese. In the past, only ghee and churpi were produced from yak milk in these areas, but the cheese produced here has also found a good market.
“We are hopeful that the price will increase and yak herders will benefit after the Prime Minister’s photo eating cheese was made public. Last year, around 5,100 kg of cheese was produced in Phalot and about 3,500 kg in Chararate,” said Chandralal Nepal, president of the Yak/Chauri Entrepreneurs Federation, Panchthar. “Yak cheese production has gradually become profitable.”
The cheese produced here is sold at Rs 1,200 per kilogram, while livestock farmers sell milk at Rs 100 per litre. With the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Nepal Dairy, cheese factories were established in Phalot for Rs 4.5 million and in Chararate at Rs 3 million.
Cheese technician and yak entrepreneur Nagendra Rijal said production is expected to increase further this year. According to him, the cheese produced in the area is supplied to Kathmandu.
The cheese factories also produce ghee. Most yak sheds in Phalelung Rural Municipality of Panchthar sell their milk directly to the cheese factories.
According to Chandralal Nepal, there are 30 yak sheds in Phalelung, of which 23 supply milk to the cheese factories. The remaining sheds are unable to sell milk because they are located in remote areas. Nepal informed that there are around 650 yaks in Phalelung.
