Rasuwa, Jan. 13 -- State-owned Dairy Development Corporation has produced 38 tonnes of cheese and 12 tonnes of butter since mid-April last year, a result of an increase in yak farming in the northern district of Rasuwa. Yak derived product volumes in the country have been growing at 10 percent a year.

Local traders say the value of yak cheese amounted to Rs 69.62 million and Rs12.4 million for butter which helped improve the lives of farmers.

Chandanbari, Dhunchhe, Gatlang and Langtang are the key cheese and butter producing centres of the corporation. Cheese and butter made from Yak's milk are popular with Nepalis as well as the foreign tourists.

It is also a major income-generating activity for the people in the mountain region. Thes...