DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇵 Nepal /Elections & Politics

Can the government reform the struggling DDC?

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Prime Minister Balendra Shah's social media post promoting yak cheese significantly boosted sales for the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC).
  • The endorsement led to a 30% increase in demand, with products selling out and highlighting the potential of social media in promoting domestic goods.
  • Despite the success, the article stresses that long-term solutions are needed to address the DDC's deep-seated financial issues and the broader challenges within Nepal's dairy sector.

The Kathmandu Post views Prime Minister Balendra Shah's recent social media endorsement of DDC's yak cheese not merely as a publicity stunt, but as a refreshing and potentially impactful demonstration of how modern communication can invigorate traditional sectors. His simple act of sharing a photo with the caption 'Say Cheese. DDC ko Cheese' resonated powerfully, driving a 30% surge in demand and selling out products in major Kathmandu Valley supermarkets. This underscores a potent, yet often underutilized, avenue for promoting domestic products.

Say Cheese. DDC ko Cheese

· Balendra ShahPrime Minister's social media caption promoting yak cheese.

While this surge offers a glimmer of hope for Nepal's struggling dairy sector, we at The Kathmandu Post must temper optimism with realism. A single social media post, however popular, cannot magically resolve the systemic issues plaguing the DDC and its farmers. For years, the corporation has languished in the red, burdened by decreased purchasing power, unsold inventory, and significant delays in payments to farmers. The recent clearing of long-pending dues, while necessary, highlights the precarious financial tightrope walked by dairy producers.

The premier’s post alone did more to promote yak cheese than years of successive governments’ efforts.

· Kathmandu PostHighlighting the impact of the Prime Minister's social media engagement.

Furthermore, the challenges extend beyond domestic sales. Despite high international demand for yak cheese, Nepal's lack of proper preservation systems and infrastructure hinders large-scale exports. Issues such as declining yak farmer numbers, limited pasture access, and inadequate veterinary services also require sustained government attention and investment. The Prime Minister's initiative is a welcome start, but it must be complemented by robust, long-term strategies to diversify milk production, ensure timely farmer payments, and crucially, boost exports. This is essential to encourage new entrants into the sector and sustain those already committed to it, ensuring the dairy industry's viability beyond fleeting social media trends.

PM Shah’s move to promote domestic products is both welcome and refreshing.

· Kathmandu PostAppreciating the Prime Minister's initiative.
About this summary

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog