Introduction
National Goat Research Program under Nepal Agricultural Research Council, situated at the Bandipur Municipality of Tanahun district, is a leading research center of goat researches in Western hilly regions. The elevation of the station ranges 800-1200 masl with the longitude of 840 38′ E and latitude of 270 94′ N. The soil of the program varied 5-6 pH, 3-4 % organic carbon, 150-200 ppm available P and about 0.5% total N. The program receives an average annual rainfall of 2000 mm with an average of 85% relative humidity and maximum and minimum temperatures of 32 and 8°C, respectively. The program is in the distance of 141 km from Kathmandu and 72 km distance from Pokhara cities.
National Goat Research Program (NGRP), Bandipur, considered as the foremost established governmental goat farm in the country, was established by the government of Nepal in April 1977 (Chaitra 2033 BS). Initially, the program was named as Central Goat Development Farm and was mandated to perform crossbreeding programs, distribution of breeding bucks/does, production and distribution of different fodder saplings and forage seed. In 1989, the farm was renamed as the Goat Research Centre, and later in 1991/92 sanctioned as Agriculture Research Station (Goat), Bandipur, authorized under Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC). It was renamed as Agricultural Research Station (Goat), Bandipur in 2014/15, Goat Research Station, Bandipur, Tanahun in 2072(2015) and National Goat Research Program, Bandipur, Tanahun in 2078(2021)
The NGRP, Bandipur has been focusing its research activities on the improvement of total productivity and production of goats through selection, crossbreeding by using artificial insemination as well as natural mating, improvement on plane of nutrition, health and management practices etc. The research works are intensified on goats and fodder trees for the hilly areas of Nepal. Furthermore, it is practicing some in-situ and ex-situ conservation activities of several goats and fodders germplasm.
The program has its five outreach (OR) sites, three previously formed and two a year old outreach sites where the station undertakes the experiments for technology verifications. Besides the technology verifications, the outreach sites are being used as the resource centers of different breeds of breeding buck and doe. The Sherabeshi and Bhogteni of Gorkha are the resource centers of Khari local and Boer crosses, where two Goat Raising Groups (MilijuliBakhrapalanSamuha ‘A’ and ‘B’) are working under LudhikholaKrishiSahakariSanstha Limited. Similarly, ChimkeshworiBakhrapalanSamuha at Baradi and Dumridanda of Tanahun are the resource centers for Barbari and Jamunapari breeds, respectively. Likely, Gandaki Goat Breeder Samiti at Pehkuthana of Waling-10, Syanja is working as another outreach site and a resource center for Boer crosses. Similarly Barbhanjhyang Boer goat farming group, Barbhanjhyang, Tanahun and Nayabelahani Boer Goat farming group, Nayabelahani-2, Nawalparasi are resource center for Boer crosses and also the outreach sites for the program.
National Goat Research Program is the largest center of goat researches in Nepal. In addition to the technology generation for the Western hills, the program is continuously extending its working areas in other regions of the country.
Goal
Improve livelihood of goat entrepreneurs through overall development of goat enterprises.
Objectives
- To undertake basic and applied research in all disciplines related to goats
- To develop, update, standardize and upscale specific technologies concerning feeding, management, breeding and health and other aspects of goat production
- To impart training for farmers and technicians in all aspects of goat production
- To provide technical and consultancy services to goat production
- To undertake programs of technology transfer to the goat farmer’s field
Strategies
- Development, verification and recommendation of suitable goat breeds for mid-hills
- Development of selection criteria and breeding plan for systematic approach of genetic improvement of goat
- Adopt, verify and develop bio-technological tools, like AI, ET
- Develop fodder trees cultivation and utilization strategies including agro-forestry system and assessment of the outputs of different fodder trees – goat interface study
- Development of package of practices for different size goat enterprises in different ecological niche
- Develop strong coordination within NARC and other government as well as non-government organizations for technology development, verification and dissemination
Current thrust areas for research
The current thrust areas for research are mainly;
- Development and/or evaluation of suitable goat breeds (both, meat and milch types) and their different blood levels for different ecological niche
- Development of feeding packages for lean period and low cost feeding technologies
- Reduction of incidence of diseases and parasite and surveillance study of the several diseases
- Development of technologies on fodder and pasture for year round green matter production
- Reduction on kid mortality
- Improvement of overall management of goat production
- Fodder trees cultivation and efficient utilization packages
- Milk replacer for multiple births of early age kids
Infrastructure and facilities
The program is rich in natural resources and has huge potential of institutional growth to the National Goat Research Program. The program is geographically extended on 80 ha of land with north faced and south faced blocks.
Chhap Block is situated in Bandipur Municipality – 1, which is north faced to the Himalayas. This block occupies 22 ha of land including grazing and pasture lands. It is surrounded with Sal (Shorearobusta) forest that experienced cold and windy in the winter months. Several full blood, pure breeds and crossbreds of Boer, Jamunapari, Barbari, Khari, Sinhal and Saanen have been maintained in this block.
Sarpani block is situated in Bandipur Municipality- 3, Sarpani and is south east faced. It has lower flat land with the rocky upper parts. Out of 58 ha of land, about 80% land is being utilized for fodder and forage cultivation and as pastureland for grazing goats. The farm experiences a warm and sunny day with long sunny hours (7:00 to 17:00 hours). Kiko crosses, Barbari crosses, Nubian crosses, Khari, Boer and Jamunapari crosses have been maintained at this block.
The program allocated its 80 ha of land for different purposes (Table 1).
Table 1. Land utilization pattern of NGRP, Bandipur, Tanahun
| S.N. | Utilization | Chhap | Sarpani | ||
| Area,ha | % | Area, Ha | % | ||
| 1. | Forage cultivation | 2 | 9.09 | 1 | 1.90 |
| 2. | Fodder cultivation | 5 | 22.75 | 4 | 7.00 |
| 3. | Silvipasture | 2 | 9.09 | – | – |
| 4. | Road, building and sheds | 3 | 13.63 | 1 | 1.45 |
| 5. | Pasture land | 10 | 45.44 | 52 | 89.65 |
| Total | 22 | 100.00 | 58 | 100.00 |
The program has maintained eight breeds (full blood, pure breeds and/or crosses) of goats, namely Jamunapari, Barbari, Khari, Kiko, Sinhal, Boer, Saanen and Nubian. A total of 14 genotypes of different breeds and crosses of goats are maintained. The program has maintained 58 species of fodder trees and bushes and 74 species of grasses and legumes.
The program has an administrative office building with field level laboratory, 6 staff quarters, 1 guest house, 9 goat sheds, 1 experimental sheds and 1 feed store. Also one four-wheeler pick up and two motorbikes are in working conditions.
Organizational structure
Researchers
Mr. Raju Kadel, Senior Scientist (Livestock Product Production Management)/ Coordinator
Mr. Bishnu Bahadur K. C., Scientist (Livestock Product Production Management)
Mr. Buddhi Ram Acharya, Senior Technical Officer
Dr. Shivahari Ghimire, Senior Technical Officer (Livestock Product Production Management)
Contact Address
Government of Nepal
Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
National Goat Research Program (NGRP)
Bandipur-1, Tanahun, Nepal
Telephone : 977-065-620162
Email : arsgoat@rediffmail.com
URL :http://www.narc.gov.np