"I was so glad when I got the visa for USA. I had received it a week after the 9/11 twin tower attack. But after living there for two weeks, I felt I did not belong there," said Gopal, who founded Lumbini Agro Products and Research Center upon returning from the USA. "Now, this business has given me both happiness and satisfaction," he said.
Gopal's net profit is Rs 400,000 per month. That's much more than he could earn in the USA, he states. More importantly, life of dignity is what he is getting in Nepal, which he could have never enjoyed in other country, he stresses. "I have worked as teacher and for some time as a journalist also. This business has given me the life I always aspired for and I don't think I could have ever got this satisfaction and dignity in another country," he said.
Currently, there are over 400 cows in his farm and he sells in between 1200 to 1500 liter of milk per day. Apart from milk, Gopal sells around 250 cows in a year. At the highest a cow fetches him Rs 200,000. "Monthly transaction amount goes very high but net profit is around Rs 400,000" he informed adding that he has got 30 permanent and several temporary staffs. "Depending on the nature of the job, the payroll of my team ranges from five thousand to 20,000 per month," Gopal said.
Gopal started his business with around 200 jersey cows with an investment of around Rs 250 million. "Buying the cows and procuring the land for establishing farm was quite expensive," he said adding further that his cows and farm are at least one billion rupees worth now.
The business is solely based in Butwal. The entire supply is consumed in Butwal only. In fact, he has not been able to meet the demand. Lot of work is farm is technology based. There's little work for humans. The cows are milked two times a day by machines Gopal informed adding that the cows are trained to stand in formation during the milking time. Milking machines make the milking process quite time efficient he informed adding that around 12 cows are milked between five to seven minutes.
Gopal had been appointed as primary level government teacher at 1993. He was into journalism even before that. He was editor of a local news paper in Butwal and was also with the Radio Lumbini. Despite all these, he was not happy and wanted to go to USA for further success in his life. "However, my happiness did not last long. Upon reaching there and staying for a few days, I felt I did not belong there and should return back home and do something in my own place."
Upon returning from the USA, he took loan from a bank and started the business. Now, 47 years old, Gopal is extremely happy that he decided to return and got into dairy business. "Entrepreneurship is far better than any type of job, in country or abroad," he opines.
Recognizing his entrepreneurial skills, the Khilaraj Regmi government had even nominated him for the Bikash Ratna Award. The government is yet to hand him the award. Gopal feels that the state is not doing sufficient for encouraging entrepreneurs and claimed that small or big business are not getting adequate facilities or support from the government. "Government policies create hassles for entrepreneurs instead of encouraging them," said Gopal urging the government to review existing policies and making them friendlier for entrepreneurs.
Gopal had plans for establishing dairy farms in all development regions of the country. However due to policy hurdles the plan remains in limbo. Though he has received incentives from the government, he feels that the government should create enabling environment for entrepreneurs instead of providing cash incentives to entrepreneurs. Last year, the ministry of Agriculture had awarded him Rs 600,000 and this year the ministry has announced to provide him one and half million rupees. Gopal feels that the government should encourage entrepreneurs in different ways rather than just focusing on providing aid.
Expanding his business further, he has recently installed biogas plant at his cow farm and has plans up his sleeves to generate electricity from the farm.
Related story
Protect Interests of Domestic Farmers
