Success Story of Isac Lepcha
Isac Lepcha, 37, a farmer from Malling village in North Sikkim, is making handsome profits from pig farming. Starting with a unit of 4 females and 1 male pig in 2019, provided by KVK under the ARYA project, he now owns around 15 pigs, including adults and piglets. Like Isac, many farmers are adopting pig farming due to its high returns.
Farmers rear pigs for breeding purposes (piglet production) and meat production. A live pig can be sold at Rs. 230-260 per kg, whereas piglets (male and female) are sold at Rs. 5000 and Rs. 4500, respectively. Due to the ARYA project, employment opportunities have increased for rural youth and women beneficiaries. With a high demand for pork meat, young farmers can easily sell their produce at the nearest market, ensuring a steady income.