Traditional Herding Persists in Eastern Mountain Districts

Herder communities across the eastern districts of Panchthar and Taplejung are sustaining ancestral livelihoods through livestock farming in highland pastures. Families continue to raise yaks, chauri cattle and sheep, generating products such as milk, butter, churpi and meat. Near the border with Sikkim, herders operate seasonal camps known as di goths to manage their animals throughout the demanding highland calendar. Daily routines begin with the first morning light and extend late into the night. Many practitioners began their herding lives at a young age, leaving formal schooling behind to tend animals in remote mountain terrain. Despite the strenuous nature of the work, parents have utilized earnings from dairy sales to fund urban education for their children. While current producers continue to supply milk and other commodities to markets, uncertainty surrounds the future of the occupation as younger generations pursue different paths away from the mountains. Operational records indicate that Panchthar hosts 44 active herding operations within its highland areas. The preservation of these traditional grazing systems relies heavily on familial dedication and established seasonal migration routes. However, producers express strong doubts regarding whether the upcoming generation will maintain these ancestral practices or abandon mountain herding altogether in favour of urban opportunities.