YK Poudel
The government has planned to add 24 new irrigation water projects in the 13th Plan to address the issues of water shortage. This would mean a total of 83 water projects by 2029.
The Department of Agriculture (DoA), under the ministry of agriculture and livestock (MoAL) has allocated Nu 343.671 million for the fiscal year 2024-2025 to construct new water channels.
Agriculture minister Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho announced this yesterday during the question and answer session at the National Council (NC).
MP for Punakha, Namgay Dorji, raised the issue saying that farmers in several dzongkhags had been grappling with water shortage affecting paddy cultivation and forcing farmers to leave the fields fallow. “The shortage of irrigation water can affect the country’s food security and the self-sufficiency goal,” he said.
As per the National Land Use Zoning report 2023, there are over 66,000-acres of fallow land in the country.
Lyonpo said that these 83 water projects spanning 618 Kilometres across 17,000-acres would benefit over 8,000 households in 17 dzongkhags.
“The government in the 13th Plan will construct 24 irrigation channels spanning 4,000 acres to address the shortage of irrigation water,” he said. “This would help over 3,000 households.”
The ministry is setting up integrated potato processing facilities in Wangdue, Lyonpo said, with plans for expansions in Bumthang and the eastern region. “These initiatives are aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and processing efficiency.”
MP for Sarpang, Pema Tashi, enquired the minister on the criteria based on which the area for these projects would be selected.
Lyonpo said that the projects will be selected based on the number of farmers into agricultural activities, the need for water channels and its feasibility. “The focus is not only on irrigation channels and its management, but also on smart irrigation for the long-term.”
Agricultural production in Bhutan has been declining over the years, with the nation producing 70,168 metric tonnes of primary cereals in 2022.
The Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Census of Bhutan 2022 reveals a decline in the production of primary cereals compared to 2021, with paddy, maize, wheat, buckwheat, barley, and millet being the primary cereals cultivated.
The census data also indicates that a high portion of farmers are above the age of 65, with females being over-represented in age categories up to 54 years.