S.Korea sends dairy cows, livestock genetic resources to Nepal

The South Korean government is donating dairy cows and genetic resources for cattle to Nepal.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Wednesday said it will send via air on Dec. 22 101 dairy cows as well as breeding bulls and cow semen for artificial insemination to Nepal jointly with the international development organization Heifer Korea.

This is the first time for Korea to send an aid package of dairy and breeding cows and live cattle overseas.

As of last year, the average dairy cow in Korea produced 10 tons and 423 kg of milk, making the country fifth worldwide in the category after Israel (12 tons and 512 kg), the US (11 tons and 119 kg), Canada (10 tons and 852 kg) and Spain (10 tons and 786 kg).

The ministry will give cows to small farming households in a pilot dairy farming village in Sindhuli District under a project promoted by the Nepalese government, and conduct training for each farm. It will also dispatch Korean experts to run follow-up steps and allow the management of specifications by a mobile app.

With per capita income of $1,223 last year, Nepal has 80% of its population residing in rural areas, with dairy farming serving as a key industry comprising 9% of GDP. The country has an estimated 7.5 million dairy cows but milk productivity is said to be declining.

Annual milk output per indigenous cow in Nepal is 880 kg and that of a hybrid breed 3,000 kg, far less than the figures of 9,000-10,000 kg in Korea.

The ministry from June last year launched export quarantine negotiations for this project and concluded them last month.

A ministry official said, "Korea, which rebuilt its dairy industry after the Korean War through the donation of dairy cows with help from Heifer International and the international community, is now providing its livestock resources to Nepal, which needs help," adding, "This is an opportunity to stress our country's transformation from aid recipient to donor country."

Write to Jin-Won Kim at jin1@hankyung.com