In school, we learned that Nepal is an agriculture-based country. However, as a child, I struggled to accept this. Farmers lacked respect, and despite being an "agriculture-first" nation, we still consumed imported agricultural products. Although I disagreed with this contradiction, I never had the courage to express it until my youth.

My family was engaged in farming year-round, yet our harvests were barely enough to survive. We practiced subsistence farming, raising buffaloes, goats, and cows traditionally. As a result, my father spent over a decade abroad, working away from family, seeking a better income. Subsistence farming barely kept us alive — it was more about preserving our dignity than achieving prosperity.

Despite my mother’s tireless labor through all seasons, we struggled even for a proper meal and a pair of clothes. The idea of transforming our financial situation through farming seemed impossible. In our community of 60 households, migration became common as families left for cities or abroad. Our village started to empty out.

As I grew older, a dream of transforming rural life through agriculture began to take root. However, rural communities, disconnected from infrastructure and media, were disheartened. Many young people saw no option but to seek work abroad, burdened with loans.

In this situation, choosing to stay in the village and pursue farming was an act of bravery. While no one hesitated to lend money to those seeking foreign employment, it was nearly impossible to get a loan for farming. Year after year passed, but the plight of the farmer remained unchanged.

At just 17 years old, despite my dreams, no one trusted me with a loan. In 2068 B.S., I finally managed to borrow NPR 20,000 from Bhanumati Small Farmers Agriculture Cooperative. I sold my mother’s jewelry and started "Srijanshil Goat Farm" with 10 female goats, determined to shift from subsistence to commercial livestock farming.

Initially, most people doubted me. Many even mocked me for taking a loan to raise goats, claiming I was foolish. I had studied Civil Overseer, but my passion drove me into an entirely new field: goat farming.

In those early days, goat farming for income was unheard of in our village. With limited technical knowledge and youthful inexperience, success did not come easily. Income was far lower than expected, and repaying the loan became difficult. Yet, I stayed committed.

The devastating earthquake and economic blockade further challenged my efforts. Still, with unwavering determination, I expanded my goat farming business.

In 2074 B.S., a life-changing opportunity came through the Learn and Earn program of the SKBBL. I got the chance to go to Israel for 11 months of advanced agricultural training.

My time at Ramat Negev International Training Center in Israel was transformative. It sharpened my technical skills, boosted my confidence, and helped me master the business aspects of modern agriculture. Without that training, my journey might have ended differently.

Returning home, I applied everything I learned  from pasture management to breeding techniques. Although initial attempts, like replacing rice fields with grass cultivation, faced local resistance, perseverance paid off. Slowly, my efforts began to show results.

I started my farm with the goal of repaying my mother’s jewelry and bringing pride back to my struggling community. The villagers who once doubted goat farming are now witnesses to its success.

Today, thanks to consistent effort and modern practices:

• Our farm produces Boer goats worth up to NPR 300,000 per goat.
• We generate nearly NPR 40 million in revenue annually through the sale of breeding goats across Nepal.
• Personally, I have invested around NPR 7 million in the farm.
• We have established Bhimad Municipality-9, Pathardi, as a Model Boer Goat Breeding Center.
• We have partnered with universities to advance research and education in goat farming.
• We have also initiated a Homestay Program to promote rural tourism through agriculture.

Through collective effort, we have transformed 60 households from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture, improving livelihoods and strengthening our local economy.

This success is not mine alone,  it belongs to the villagers, the SKBBL,NACCFL, SFACL the Government of Israel, and the Learn and Earn program.

Cooperatives in Nepal  are the bridge playing a great role that connects traditional Nepalese agriculture to opportunities for rural entrepreneurship and income generation