YK Poudel
The two-day Agrifood Conference, which ends today in Thimphu, discussed the long-standing challenges in the sector, facilitated a buyer-seller networking programme, and addressed the demands of local farmers.
More than 80 participants attended the conference that aimed to meet the goals of the 13th Plan by integrating farmers, aggregators, government officials, and all relevant agencies.
Through a combination of strategic focus, flagship projects, and targeted financial investments, the conference aimed to advance the nation’s vision of achieving a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD five billion by 2029.
The director of the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Co-operatives (DAMC), Tashi Dorji, emphasised that the primary goal of the conference was to address the marketing challenges faced by farmers, a critical factor in realising the objectives of the 13th Plan.
He highlighted the importance of boosting GDP from the agriculture and livestock sectors, aiming to increase from Nu 31 billion in 2023 to Nu 50 billion by 2029, at current prices.
“With DAMC’s role being pivotal in marketing support, more conferences of this nature will be conducted in various locations,” he said.
With a budget allocation of Nu 1,800 million dedicated to enhancing the business ecosystem, he noted that regulatory reforms and policies aimed at supporting the agri-food sector will be rolled out. “Access to finance, incentive mechanisms, and infrastructure development are among the top priorities.”
Around 15 economic development and marketing officers, along with dzongkhag agriculture officers, presented reports on the annual agricultural and livestock productions in their respective dzongkhags. They provided insights into the current market conditions, business strategies, and linkages, and outlined their plans for the 13th Plan.
These plans include extensive marketing and sales of agricultural and livestock products across various sectors such as hotels, tourism centers, hospitals, schools, and Gyalsung academies.
As part of the programme, a panel discussion was conducted where government officials from various sectors addressed queries from farmers and entrepreneurs.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock launched its 13th Plan document on August 28.
According to an official from the ministry, the plan includes a total indicative outlay of Nu 14,983.15 million. The plan prioritises five key projects: promoting large-scale commercial farming, supporting resilient smallholder farmers, advancing high-value product promotion, improving the business environment, and enhancing services.
Ensuring that these plans are met and better export assistance is rendered, the secretariat of the ministry would carry out initiatives in policy enhancement, governance infrastructure and frame guided procedures for access to finance and incentive mechanisms.
The conference was organized by DAMC in partnership with the World Bank’s ‘South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth’ project.
The chief trade officer at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment, Kinley Yangzom, said that Bhutan currently has 78 products under the ‘Made in Bhutan’ brand and nine products under the ‘Grown in Bhutan’ brand.
“Dry ports in Pasakha, Nganglam, Gelephu, and Samtse will be established within the 13th Plan or early in the 14th Plan,” she said.
The department has launched an online trading platform to facilitate traders across the country.
Last year, Bhutan exported agricultural products worth Nu 36 billion, while imports amounted to Nu 107 billion.
To ensure the success of these plans and to provide better export assistance, the ministry plans undertake initiatives focused on policy enhancement, governance infrastructure, and the development of guided procedures for access to finance and incentive mechanisms.
The conference was organised by the DAMC in partnership with the World Bank’s South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth project.