KANCHANPUR: Tej Bahadur Chaudhary of Shuklaphanta Municipality-8, Beldandi, has made Duroc pig farming and fish farming a reliable source of income. Working as an accountant at Siddhanath Secondary School in Beldandi, Chaudhary earns over Rs 700,000 annually by managing commercial animal husbandry and fishery alongside his job.

Chaudhary, who started pig farming five years ago with an investment of around Rs 1,000,000, sold 60 piglets this year alone. He mentioned that selling them at Rs 5,000 per piglet brought in an income of approximately Rs 300,000. “We sold 60 piglets this year,” he said, “Three mother pigs were also sold for over Rs 100,000.”

Currently, his farm has 15 mother pigs and 19 piglets. He shared that around Rs 200,000 is spent annually on feed and healthcare for the pig farming. Along with pig farming, Chaudhary has also continued fish farming by constructing a fish pond next to the farm. He explained that since the system allows pig waste to drain directly into the pond, it manages natural feed for the fish.

He stated that fish farming also generates an annual income of around Rs 200,000. The produced fish is sold in the local market, while the pigs are sold in cash based on demand across various locations in Kailali and Kanchanpur, he said.

Chaudhary mentioned that while he is busy with school work during the day, his wife handles the farm management, and he feeds them and does other necessary tasks himself in the morning and evening. “The salary from the school alone cannot sustain the family expenses,” he said, “Therefore, I started pig and fish farming as an alternative, and now this business has provided great support.”

He shared that he built a concrete house in the village by saving the income earned from selling pigs. In his experience, the income from pig and fish farming has been a huge help for his children’s education, household expenses, and emergency needs. Chaudhary’s pig and fish farming business is establishing itself as an example that one can generate a good income in rural areas by adopting an alternative business instead of relying solely on a limited salary.