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Buffalo Ghee Production and Marketing:
Summarised article based on: Vishwakarma, O.P.,
Thapa, D.B. and Rasali, D.P. (1996). A case study of buffalo Ghee production
and its marketing in three hill districts of Lumbini zone of Nepal. The 8th
AAAP Animal Science Congress (13-18 October 1996) Proceedings, Vol. 2:
Free Communication papers. Published by Japanese Society of Zootechnical
Science, Tokyo, Japan. pp. 980-981.
Production of Ghee
(clarified butter oil) from buffalo milk is a traditional practice of farmers
in the hills Nepal.The product holds an important place in the economy of
farming households (HHs) particularly in the hill districts, Palpa, Gulmi and
Arghakhanchi of Lumbini Zone, not only as a provider of a nutritious food
ingredients but also as a source of substantial cash income for farming
families.This article summarises a case study undertaken by Nepal Rastra Bank
(NRB), Bhairahawa Branch to establish the baseline information on buffalo Ghee
production and its marketing system operating in these hill districts.
A case-study survey was
conducted in the year 1994/95 using a structured questionnaire household
interview across three wealth rank categories of large, medium and small
farmers sampled purposively from one Village area of each of the three
districts.A total of 7 farming HHs comprising two large farmers’ category (each
raising >5 cattle/buffaloes), three of medium farmers’ category (each
raising 3-4 cattle/buffaloes), and two of small farmers’ category (each raising
<2 cattle/buffaloes) but all having at least one milking buffalo in their
HHs were selected from each of the three sampled Village areas.
The survey results showed
that the overall average amount of buffalo Ghee production per HH per annum was
34.38 kg worth an average HH income of NRs. 4813. at a price of NRs. 140.
per kg (1 US$ = NRs. 55.).The annual amount and cost of, and the annual gross
income from, the HH Ghee produced were highest in the large farmers’ category
followed by medium and then small farmer category.However, the benefits-cost
ratio was highest in the small farmer category followed by large and the medium
farmer category indicating the relatively lowest cost of production amongst the
small farmers.
The survey results also
showed that the Ghee consumption pattern was not uniform across farmers’ wealth
rank categories. Most of the Ghee
produced at large farmers’ HHs was consumed within their HHs, whilst the medium
and small farmers’ HHs saved respectively 25% and 39% of Ghee produced in their
HHs for sales. However, out of an overall surplus of 14% Ghee produced amongst
HHs surveyed, small amounts were sold within the village area to meet local
demands.The rest of the surplus Ghee is collected by local traders from the
village HHs for making the bulk sold in bigger markets such as Tansen and
Butwal in the case of Madanpokhara in Palpa District, Tamghas, Tansen and
Butwal in the case of Paralmi in Gulmi District, and Butwal and Krishnanagar in
the case of Dhikura in Arghakhanchi District.Some of the bulk Ghee so collected
is locally consumed even in these market areas, whilst the rest is exported
through the border customs points of Bhairahawa and Krishnanagar to Indian
market.Customs Department's 1995 figures indicated that the bulk Ghee exported
to India in the year 1994/95 through these two customs points was to the tune
of 343 mt worth a total of Rs. 21.9 millions accounting for an increase of 3.6
% from the previous year in its total value at current prices.The age old
practice of producer farmers carrying the bulk surplus Ghee on their own back
load to the distant markets such as Butwal and Krishnanagar in the Terai
districts of Lumbini Zone was no longer in existence ever since the opening of
two major highways crossing each other within the zonal territory in early
1970s.
The buffalo Ghee is produced
both for HH consumption as well as cash income in the hill districts of Lumbini
Zone.However, larger farmers produce it mainly for their own consumption,
whilst the smaller farmers were benefited proportionately more from the cash
income from it.The substantial amount of Ghee from the hill districts of
Lumbini Zone is exported to India market as a surplus from the domestic
consumption.
Citation for this article:
Vishwakarma,
O.P., Thapa, D.B. and Rasali, D.P. (1996). A case study of buffalo Ghee
production and its marketing in three hill districts of Lumbini zone of Nepal.
The 8th AAAP Animal Science Congress (13-18 October 1996) Proceedings, Vol. 2:
Free Communication papers. Japanese Society of Zootechnical Science, Tokyo,
Japan. pp. 980-981.