Introduction
National Buffalo Research Program (NBRP), Tarahara is situated in Sunsari district at ward No. 2 of Itahari Municipality of Koshi Zone in Eastern Terai. It lies five kilometers north from Itahari Chowk in the Eastern side of Dharan-Biratnagar high-way. It is a tropical zone with warm climatic conditions. NBRP, Tarahara is located at 26°42’16.85” North altitude and 87° 16’ 38.43” East longitude. It is located at an elevation of 136 meter above sea level.
In the year 1960 A.D. Tarahara farm was established and named and famed then as “Biratnagar Agricultural farm” where multicommodity sections were established to provide agricultural technical support to the clients. Under the livestock section one of the major commodity existing since establishment is buffalo and to improve the genetic potential of native and exotic buffalo, breeding program was initiated in 1965. In1991, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) was established as an apex institution for agricultural research in the country and under the NARC; Bovine Research Program (BRP) was evolved and established in Lalitpur, Khumaltar as one among the various commodity program to conduct study on cattle and buffalo. Realizing the importance of the commodity in the country, NARC management has decided to separate the buffalo commodity from BRP and then National Buffalo Research Program (NBRP) was established in year 2069 B.S. (2013 A.D.) under the NARC act and mandated to carry-out basic and applied research on various aspects of buffalo production system in the country. This program will carry-out problem and need based research in the field of buffalo production prioritized by nation.
Goal
To contribute national development by generating, verifying and applying appropriate technologies and improved livelihood of farming communities through increasing buffalo production and productivity.
Vision
National Buffalo Research program aims to enhance the production and productivity of buffalo in the country with the integrated effort on client oriented, problem based, participatory and systemic research to support production enhancement, profitability, competiveness as to maintain the dynamism in buffalo production system as well as food and nutritional security.
Mission
Facilitate felt need based research in buffalo commodity in on-going and emerging areas to support increased productivity, reducing the gap between potential and actual yield and to prepare the country to face the challenges of globalization.
- To generate, verify, recommended and disseminate appropriate technologies in feeding, breeding, production/management & health of buffalo suitable for various agro-ecological zones of the country.
- To determine, formulate and fix priorities for buffalo research in the country.
- To document, maintain and update information on buffalo research in Nepal.
- To establish, maintain and strengthen linkage with other national and international institutions/ organizations for collaborative and participatory research.
- To maintain the selected genotypes/breeds of buffalo and produce improved buffaloes.
- Organize training, monitoring tours, technical meetings and seminar to address clients’ needs and also provide resource person for trainings.
Strategies
Buffalo is a one of the major component of Nepalese farming system for milk and meat production. Income from milk and meat is increasing day by day and becoming a main source of income even in rural areas. Contribution of buffaloes is the highest compared to other livestock species that farmers are rearing in Nepal. Along with these increments, the awareness of farmers towards feeding nutritive green fodder to their animal is also increasing. Considering these facts, the following research strategies will follow in the future;
- Improvement in animal nutrition through the promotion of pasture, fodder and feed.
- Improving the genetic potentiality for increasing the productivity of buffalo.
- Research on milk production and processing will be initiated and technology will be developed for farmers’ recommendation.
- Development of male buffalo calves fattening technologies.
- Identification of the major buffalo diseases and their causal agent with practical management practices.
- Outreach research to support livestock enterprises (milk and meat).
Researchers/Experts
- Mr. Pawan Kumar Jha, Senior Scientist (S3)
- Dr. Bishnu Prasad Kushwaha, Senior Technical Officer (T8)
- Mr. Birendra Prasad Budhnagariya, Senior Technical Officer (T-7)
- Dr. Mohammad Shahanavaz Ali, Scientist (S-1)
- Dr. Riddhi Shrestha, Technical Officer
Contact Address
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
National Buffalo Research Program, Tarahara,Sunsari, Nepal
Tel: 977-025-475411 (O)
Email: nbrp.tarahara69@gmail.com
Website: www.narc.org.np