Bumthang Agriculture Sector

25/07/2023

Oil crops production gaining popularity in Bumthang

The edible oil is becoming a scarce commodity owing to global supply chain disruption as a result of pandemic and on-going global crisis. Hence, recognizing the urgent need to boost domestic oil production to substitute soaring oil import, the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector with technical support from ARDC Wengkhar and fund support from RGoB implemented an expanded outreach on sun flower and mustard production in 2022-23 FY.

In this regard, the sector supported the sun flower growers groups, especially Jalikhar community with basic inputs such as irrigation materials which can also be used for production of other crops as well. The expanded outreach has led to an increase in area under sun flower production by about 10 acres in Jalikhar alone.

With sun flower production becoming one of the viable sources of income in Jalikhar and neighbouring communities, the sector is happy to report that the enthusiastic growers in other Gewogs are also gradually picking up sun flower production.

However, in order to ensure reliable and sustainable market for the local produce, the Dzongkhag with support from ARDC Wengkhar had sent the sun flower seed samples to one of the processors sometime in the middle of last fiscal year for assessing the oil content of the varieties being grown in the Dzongkhag.

Interestingly, the sector was informed that oil content of Bumthang Sun flower varieties is comparable to the ones imported from across the border and the processor has even expressed interest to buy whatever is being produced in the Dzongkhag.

Therefore, considering the huge production potential and ready market for local produce, the Dzongkhag has plans to further intensify oil crop production and develop sustainable market linkage in 13th FYP and beyond.

- Field updates from Gewog Agriculture Extension Officers.

26/03/2023

With an aim to promote water use efficiency and enhance strawberry production, the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector with technical support from ARDC Wengkhar conducted on-site hands-on training on automated irrigation system for Extension staff and interested strawberry growers, as part of piloting the techbology in one of the progressive strawberry growers at Metsithang under Tang Gewog (refer earlier post in December 2022).

Following the on-site hands on training, one of the trainees and a progressive grower of Choekhor is now replicating the knowledge and skills gained from the on-site hands on training in his strawberry farm at Jalikhar under Choekhor.

As the market often determines the success of any commodities, the Dzongkhag with support from ARDC facilitated and linked four progressive strawberry growers with Bhutan Agro Industries Limited (BAIL) to foster market-led production. Hence, considering the Dzongkhag's potential and competitive advantage, the sector has planned to establish about 100 strawberry orchards in the Dzongkhag under GEF-LDCF NAPA-3 project within this fiscal year. In view of this, the Dzongkhag, in line with the ministry's crop prioritization strategy has identified strawberry as one of the prioritized high value fruit crops for Bumthang in 13th FYP and beyond.

16/12/2022

The Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector, with support from ARDC Wengkhar, AMC-Paro, IFPP-Lingmethang under NPHC, NSC-Paro, National Potato Program under ARDC-Yusipang, NHRDC-Jakar and FMCL gearing up for 115th National Day Celebrations at Chamkhar, Bumthang.

09/12/2022

As part of implementing GEF-LDCF activities for 2022-23 FY in Bumthang Dzongkhag, the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector with support from ARDC Wengkhar is organizing a three day hands-on practice training on installation, operation and maintenance of Smart irrigation system at Metsithang, Tang. The program is organized mainly to promote climate resilient and labour saving farming technologies in the Dzongkhag. A total of 12 participants including Extension staff, interested progressive farmers and interns from CNR are attending the program. The program which commenced from 8th December will end on 10th December 2022.

- An update from Gewog and Dzongkhag Agriculture Office, Bumthang

04/10/2022

The mortality survey of the first phase of Million Fruit Tree Project, which was implemented as a collaborative program between MoAF and De-suung National Service in 2021-22 FY, commences in three gewogs of Bumthang dzongkhag.

Along side this important exercise, the Gewog Agriculture Extension Officers have planned to identify interested beneficiaries for the second phase of MFTP, which will be implemented from February 2023.

The survey in Ura gewog will begin from 8th October, 2022.

- Field updates by Agriculture Extension Officers of Choekhor, Chhumig and Tang gewogs.

04/10/2022

With paddy cultivation having gained popularity in Choekhor and Tang gewogs, the short-term gain accrued from the positive impact of climate change is making it possible for us to expand paddy cultivation to higher areas such as Gyaltsa chiwog under Chhumig gewog.

The Dzongkhag has planned to upscale paddy cultivation in the target gewogs under GEF-LDCF support provided through ARDC Wengkhar in this fiscal year.

- Field updates by Mrs Sonam Tshomo, Agri Extension Officer, Chhumig

19/09/2022

The recent coverage by WFP Bhutan Office is a clear indication for us to strive towards promoting group farming and developing sustainable linkage for ready market.

How the World Food Programme provides support to the Government with nutritional interventions

26/05/2022

Agriculture Machinery Centre (AMC) completes demonstration of farm machinery technologies in Bumthang today...

With an objective to curtail farm labour shortage, reduce drudgery and make farming attractive, the demonstration of farm machinery technologies, which began from Tang gewog on 20th May, ended successfully with demonstration in Chumey gewog on 26th May, 2022.

A total of about 130 tractor/ power tiller owners and other interested farmers participated in the demonstration program. The technologies demonstrated include potato planter and harvester, bed maker and mulch laying machine, among others.

Majority of the participants highlighted that such technologies would bring immense benefit to the farming communities while some were bit concerned about the accessibility and thus accelerated hiring service would be crucial.

The demo program was organized by AMC, Paro with faciliation support from Dzongkhag and the Gewog Administration.


you AMC and we look forward to many more collaborative programs in future #

- Updates from Gewog colleagues, with additional information from ADAO, Bumthang and Agri Engineer/Organizer, AMC

16/03/2022

The implementation of the noble initiative of His Majesty the King begins in Bumthang Dzongkhag

12/12/2021

Good news for quinoa growers....

11/12/2021

Organic apple orchard management technology......a valuable piece of information for apple growers

15/10/2021

Thank you Mijey Lyonpo and team for visiting the Dzongkhag.