Currently, in the Buchi area of Baglung, there are farmers engaged in livestock farming. With sufficient nutritious grass available for the animals during the monsoon season, around a thousand farmers raise cows, buffaloes, and yaks in the region situated at an altitude of about three thousand five hundred meters. The Buchi region, located at an altitude of about four thousand five hundred meters, is covered with green grass and livestock during this season. However, this year, farmers who usually eagerly take their livestock, including cows and buffaloes, to the Buchi region, seem less enthusiastic. This is because they are disappointed after their livestock, especially cows and buffaloes, contracted the “Lumpy Skin Disease.”
As the disease spreads, many livestock animals are dying. When the animals are severely affected by the disease and their bodies are covered with sores they eventually die. With the spread of the infection, Buchi Rural Municipality has taken steps to treat the affected livestock. The infected animals are isolated in the pasture and are receiving treatment. Along with this, veterinary experts, led by the Municipal Chief Administrative Officer, Vishnu Prasad Jwali, have visited Buchi to distribute medicine and apply spray to the affected animals.
The veterinary team treated the affected animals and the farmers were relieved. Though Buchi is known for being a difficult terrain, this disease has spread even at higher altitudes. The veterinary team’s presence in Buchi has provided relief to the farmers. Vishnu Prasad Jwali, the Municipal Chief Administrative Officer, said, “Lumpy skin disease is a highly dangerous disease. We have seen many cases of infection in Buchi, where the terrain is rugged and challenging. We have taken necessary measures to control the spread of the disease. We have provided medicine, spray, and other required materials. We are also in contact with the Rural Municipality to address the issue of the disease spreading in the village.”
Farmers who have spent two days in Buchi to treat their livestock shared their experiences. Jwali mentioned that a large number of cows and buffaloes were affected, but due to timely intervention and treatment, the mortality rate has been kept low. Jwali also said that although the disease has spread, he is happy that the veterinary team has treated a large number of affected animals. In addition to treating the livestock affected by the disease, the veterinary team also provided information about the disease to the farmers.
Lumpy Skin Disease has affected more than a thousand seven hundred livestock animals in Dhorpatan Rural Municipality, according to Employment Coordinator Hirak Lal Khinal. Among the infected, nearly a hundred and seven sheep have died. Khinal informed that the Rural Municipality has made arrangements to treat the infected animals in the area where the disease has spread. The team of experts reached the village and provided treatment to the animals in the pasture, where they were seen standing idle.
“In many areas of Buchi, we have observed the problem. Geographically, Buchi has rugged and inaccessible areas, making it difficult for farmers to report incidents on time. Though some delays may have occurred, we are working on providing medical treatment, medication, and management of the spray. So far, the mortality rate is low among the affected animals,” said Khinal. “To control the infection entirely, we are treating the affected livestock in the village with the help of the Rural Municipality,” he added.
The local authorities have been informed about the spread of the disease from various locations to the Rural Municipality. Although the infection rate has increased, the death rate has decreased, according to Jwali. He said, “We have deployed a veterinary team to Buchi to provide treatment and administer medication to the affected animals. We have left some medicines for the farmers after the treatment of the infected animals in the pasture.” He further informed that the veterinary team will visit the village again soon.
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