The shift to pineapple farming as a primary cash crop has reduced the community’s reliance on Golden Mahseer, supporting conservation efforts

Neten Dorji

Yangbari, Mongar—What began as a small garden in Yangbari, a village along the Kuri-Gongri River in Mongar, has transformed into a thriving pineapple farming business, boosting the local economy and improving the livelihoods of farmers

At the forefront of this change is 53-year-old Yeshi Tshomo, who converted her two-acre plot into a pineapple farm, cultivating Queen and Kew varieties.

From planting 500 saplings in 2020, her farm has begun yielding profits, even though pineapples typically take five years to reach full commercial maturity.

“I started planting pineapples in 2015 with saplings that I got from farmers in Mikuri village,”she said. “I expanded my farm when Bhutan Agro Industries Limited (BAIL) assured us of a reliable market.”

Her dedication has paid off. She earned Nu 60,000 last year, and her income increased to Nu 80,000 this year. “It is more profitable than maize, as long as wild animals do not damage the pineapples,” she said.

For many farmers, the challenge was not growing pineapples but selling them. That changed when BAIL provided a stable market.

“I earned Nu 25,000 this year,” Jigme Wangmo, another farmer, said. “The demand from BAIL has encouraged more people to start growing pineapples.”

Some 51 households in Yangbari now grow pineapples commercially, improving the incomes and lives of farmers.

However, pineapple cultivation has not been without challenges.

Farmers face frequent attacks from wildlife, including wild boars and porcupines. To prevent wildlife encroachment, temporary guard huts dot the fields, and chain-link fences have been installed.

Nima Zangmo, a pineapple grower from Patong village, said that despite various strategies, human-wildlife conflicts have worsened.

“Even with chain-link fences, wild animals find their way in,” she said.

This year, she lost crops worth Nu 25,000.

“This discourages us from scaling up farming, so we grow pineapples only on small plots,” she said.

Pikari-Yangbari Tshogpa, Sangay Chophel, said that pineapple farming has directly benefited local farmers and reduced poverty. “Farmers have been expanding their pineapple farms, which ultimately uplifts their livelihoods.”

The local government, BAIL (Lingmethang), the Divisional Forest Office (Mongar), ARDC Wengkhar, and the Department of Forest and Park Services (DoFPS) have installed about 6-kilometre chain-link fencing. Despite this, human-wildlife conflicts remain a significant challenge.

Traditionally, the people of Yangbari relied on fishing the Golden Mahseer, a valuable fish that supported their livelihoods. Due to limited income opportunities, some resorted to illegal fishing to make ends meet. And this undermined conservation of the Golden Mahseer.   

However, the shift to pineapple farming as a primary cash crop has offered a sustainable alternative, reducing the community’s reliance on the Golden Mahseer.

“Although there are no official records showing the community’s reliance on the Golden Mahseer, illegal fishing and consumption are evident,” said a forest official. “We are hopeful that the income from pineapple farming will reduce the need to fish the Golden Mahseer.”

BAIL has partnered with 51 farmers, expanding Yangbari’s pineapple farms from 10 acres to 27 acres. Pineapple production has increased from 3 metric tonnes (MT) to 14 MT this year, generating Nu 620,000 revenue for the farmers.

Yangbari’s pineapple growers have received Local Organic Assurance System certification from the National Centre for Organic Agriculture.

Additionally, the 51 farmers cultivating pineapples have been awarded third-party certification by the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority.

“Yangbari’s pineapple growers are among the largest certified organic producers in Bhutan,” a BAIL official said. “These certifications will help gain access to the market for both pineapples and the juice produced in the factory.”

BAIL has also provided training, farm audits, and organic certification, helping farmers meet international standards, including those set by the European Union.

“Our long-term vision is to leverage projects like Gelephu Mindfulness City to bring prosperity to the region,” the official added.