BHAIRAHAWA, May 29 -- Local farmers have breathed a sigh of relief after the government tightened imports of livestock like goats and sheep from India.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development took the decision in a bid to find market for local productions, ensure supply of healthy and hygienic meat products to consumers and make the country self-reliant in meat products.

"Goat import through Bhairahawa, Krishnanagar and Maheshpur customs points is nil since March 10," Gandhi Upadhyaya, Chief of Animal Quarantine Office in Bhairahawa, told Republica.

According to Upadhyaya, 369,657 goats worth about Rs 4 billion were imported from India in FY2017/18. The country had imported 193,693 goats from the three customs points befo...