Galyang (Syangja): The renowned churpi, a hardened cheese delicacy, crafted by the Akala Namuna Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives situated in Waling Municipality-8 of Syangja, is now making its way to the United States.

Churpi, a cherished culinary delight, comes with a price tag ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,100 per kilogram. The cooperative's chairperson, Punya Prasad Aryal, proudly stated that the churpi produced by their cooperative is being successfully exported to the US.

The cooperative operates a dairy that collects approximately 800 to 1,100 liters of milk daily from local farmers. Lakshmi Pokharel Regmi, the cooperative's manager, highlighted the cooperative's initiatives to support the farmers. "We've been providing a 50 percent subsidy to the farmers for agricultural materials, seeds, and grass plants," she shared. The cooperative's efforts have also been in collaboration with the Prime Minister's Agricultural Digitization Project.

In the previous fiscal year, 10 farmers were beneficiaries of the 'Buffalor Subsidy Program,' receiving a 50 percent subsidy, while 28 farmers were granted support under the 'Storage Improvement Program.' The cooperative, established in 2075 BS (Bikram Sambat, the Nepali calendar), boasts 2,850 shareholders.

Furthering their commitment to the community, the cooperative plans to launch a free animal insurance program under the Livestock Protection Program in the current fiscal year. Regmi emphasized that their cooperative's primary objective is to foster farmer independence and entrepreneurship.

As this traditional delicacy gains international recognition and successfully enters the US market, it reflects the efforts of local communities and cooperatives to not only preserve cherished culinary traditions but also stimulate economic growth through innovative agricultural ventures.