Back to news
23 Mar 2022 | Press releases

Assured markets for yak dairy products to sustain an age-old herding culture in the Kangchenjunga Landscape

This press statement is prepared for release after the agreement signing between Surketham Dairy Cooperative Limited (SDCL), Nepal Dairy Pvt. Ltd. (NDPL), and ICIMOD on 23 March 2022, Wednesday.

1 min Read

70% Complete
Yak value chain development and market linkage under Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative Signing Letter of Intent between, Surketham Dairy Cooperative Limited (SDCL) Falelung, Panchthar, Nepal Dairy Pvt. Ltd. (NDPL) Hattiban, Lalitpur and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Khumaltar, Lalitpur on 23 March 2022 at ICIMOD. Photo: Jitendra Raj Bajracharya/ICIMOD.

On 23 March 2022, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Surketham Dairy Cooperative Limited (SDCL), and Nepal Dairy Pvt. Ltd (NDPL) signed a tripartite agreement to promote yak dairy enterprise that can sustain the age-old yak herding culture in the highlands of Eastern Nepal.

The initiative aims to develop a viable yak-based business model to generate attractive and sustainable employment opportunities for rural youth in the Kangchenjunga Landscape of Nepal. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD, Heramba B. Rajbhandary, Executive Chairman, NDPL, and Maita Bahadur Libang, Chairperson, SDCL signed the LoI.

Challenges imposed by climate change and socioeconomic drivers have reduced interest in yak herding. In 2009, the Surketham Dairy Cooperative Limited, an institution formed by the yak and cattle farmers in Panchthar district, Nepal, ventured into yak dairy processing. The cooperative, however, has not been able to succeed due to its limited capacity to link up with the markets.

Motivated by the mission to save yaks and yak farming culture from extinction and showcase their economic viability, the Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI) under ICIMOD approached NDPL for a partnership in processing, product diversification, and market linkages for yak products. This partnership is expected to deliver a successful model of yak-based enterprise to attract and engage youth in the landscape to sustain the yak herding culture.


For more information, please contact

Anshu Pandey

Media Associate

media@icimod.org

Mobile: +977 9849920539

 

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up
7 Jun 2024 Press releases
Scientists sound alarm: Urgent action needed to protect mountain, downstream, and low-lying regions

Bonn, Germany, Friday 7th June: Leading scientists and representatives from countries in mountain, downstream, and low-lying regions have issued an ...

21 Jul 2015 Press releases
ICIMOD awarded humanitarian GIS award

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has been awarded a ‘Humanitarian GIS Award’ at the 2015 International User ...

3 Dec 2017 Press releases
MOPE and ICIMOD host international conference on resilience

More than four hundred experts in Kathmandu to discuss solutions for mountain communities Four hundred experts from around the world are ...

30 Jul 2019 SERVIR-HKH
Regional drought outlook system for South Asia launched

Droughts do not harm immediately. Their impact on lives and productive assets is gradual, which is perhaps why they do ...

16 Jul 2024 Press releases
WOMEN ON ICE: ICIMOD seeks recruits to help shatter the ‘Ice-Ceiling’ in cryosphere science

Kathmandu, Nepal – 17 July 2024  ICIMOD this winter launches Women on Ice, a flagship new initiative to build the ...

5 Dec 2023 Press releases
Right Honourable Mr Ram Chandra Paudel, President of Nepal, attends celebrations to mark 40 years of ICIMOD

Kathmandu, [5 December 2023] – The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) marks four decades of catalysing sustainable development in the complex ...

5 Sep 2018 Press releases
Policies in place, but more needs to be done

  In his inaugural address, Rt. Honourable Vice President of Nepal, Nanda Bahadur Pun said that women’s empowerment is key to ...