Manoj Adhikari

At a time when a majority of rural youths are moving overseas to earn a decent income, Lakshin and Amrit Gurung - brothers in law holding permanent residency of the UK and Japan, respectively -- are making millions in their own village by starting a fishery business nearby the lake city.

When the Gurung in-law brothers decided to return, they had little idea of what they would do, but eventually jumped into Rainbow Trout farming in a land owned by their in-laws in a place near Sardikhola of Pokhara. 

Their efforts, which materialized in the form of Gandaki Rainbow Trout Farm, required them to invest Rs 8 million for purposes like acquisition of land, development of necessary infrastructure, buying a feed machine and hiring the workers. But just within a year, the investment is fetching them a return of Rs 15 million.

“This year also, we are targeting to sell 18 tons of fish in the very first harvest,” said Lakshin, who returned to Nepal despite holding red passport of the UK. As the climate and temperature of the area perfectly suits the farm, we have better production than other areas, he told Republica.

Encouraged by the first year´s turnover, half of which was net profit, Gurung brothers have worked out fresh plans to expand the farm and produce more fish to increase their profits. “Given that Rainbow Trout is high on demand and priced pretty well, we are sure we will earn more profits next year,” said Lakshin.

The efforts of Gurung brothers, meanwhile, has helped people in the region to realize that commercial farming would enable them to make more money than what they would in overseas jobs.

Lakshin, who had entered Kathmandu from his native village, Ghandruk, in 1996, initially undertook woolen yarn business and later worked as an importer of garments, bringing in apparels from Hong Kong and Bangkok.

However, after the prospect of such business doomed, he move to Hong Kong under the status of dependent of his wife Bishnu Kumari, who had Hong Kong ID. After the UK government changed opened residency to the families serving the British government, he eventually landed in London. 

Though his wife, having experience of working as a chef, easily adopted in the new setting, Lakshin, however, remained unemployed and could not enjoy there. 

“The UK is definitely a developed and prosperous country. But I saw no opportunity except for menial jobs. That constantly compelled me to return to Nepal,” he related.

During that period, his brother in law Amrit was settled in Tokyo with his family. He had a permanent residency and was pursuing meat and fish businesses. “I proposed him to return to Nepal and start a business of our own. Though he was reluctant, I compelled him to agree. We agreed to start meat and fish business,” said Lakshin.

Thanks to their dedication to do something for themselves, Gurung in-laws have set up a good business and also created employment opportunities for seven persons. “We will soon hire six more people in a restaurant that we are opening shortly nearby the farm,” said Lakshin.

The Gurung in-laws had started rearing fingerlings in April by preparing 31 race ways in a land located at Sardikhola-3, Mulkhel, Barahsthan. Now they are constantly harvesting and selling the popular variety of fish. 

The farm that started by bringing 80,000 fingerlings from Trishuli has today become a model farm in the district. District Agricultural Development Office (DADO) and Regional Agricultural Directorate always refer the farm to concerned stakeholders with high regard.

“It is a model farm. I always take business people and other stakeholders to the farm to show them how fish farming should be done,” said Beni Bahadur Basnet, chief of Kaski DADO. He disclosed he is also planning to organize a Rainbow Trout Festival in the city.

Amrit, meanwhile, said that they were also thinking of breeding fingerlings at the farm in a bid to be self-dependent on all aspects of fish farming. 

However, the Gurung in-laws expressed they will decide on the plan only after they get a clear picture of the market. “For now we are facing difficulty in fulfilling the demands we are getting,” Amrit stated. The farm currently is receiving orders for hundreds of kilograms everyday from restaurants. Individual customers too are approaching the farm.

“We are selling at least 20 kg of fish to individuals from the farm itself,” said Amrit.

Likewise, as the cost of fish feed is expensive in the market, Gurung inlaws have also bought a machine to produce the feed themselves investing Rs 1 million. “We must feed 3 kg of pellet feed to a fish to enable it gain a weight of 1 kg. Given such huge requirement of feed, we thought it is better to produce it ourselves than rely on expensive supply, which costs Rs 200 per kg,” said they.

Normally, trout is ready for harvest within a year. But because of suitable climatic conditions, the farm has been able to harvest it in 7-8 months.

Because of high nutritional value, trout is expensive the world over. In Nepal too, retailers in different cities are selling it at more than Rs 1,000 per kg. However, Gurung in-laws are presently selling them at Rs 800 per kg.

“Trout is expensive in the market because it is imported from India. This has rendered it unaffordable for general consumers. We want to change this situation. Every Nepalis should be able to afford it,” said Amrit. 

If the farm managed to produce as much trout as they have planned, he said they will further lower the price.

Published on: 13 December 2011 | Republica