YK Poudel
The National Organic Flagship Programme (NOFP), started in 2019 to meet the vision of organic agriculture in Bhutan, has been unflagged.
Started with a budget outlay of Nu 1 billion and looked after by the Prime Minister’s Office, the programme today is in an uncertain stage. A concern among the public is on the efficient utilisation of the Nu 1 billion budget outlay.
Due to reprioritisation during the pandemic, only Nu 525 million (M) was approved to be used in all dzongkhags and projects. Of which, the agriculture ministry mobilised only 357.43 M for expenditure – summing to just 68 percent in the entire five-year period.
A Kuensel source said that the cross-sectoral nature of the project led to poor control of project implementation, slow implementation and budget utilisation by project partners. “Agencies focused on their own priority which could have been focused holistically in a defined landscape to demonstrate better impact to the community.”
This was worsened by changing plans and programmes of the government, inadequate funds, and the need for re-prioritisation of several projects.
The ambitious organic goal was to become the world’s first 100 percent organic nation by 2020.
Team leader of Jo Langri Gonor Detshen, Haa, Sangay Tashi, said that their group started the initiative five years ago as a small business. “There are 26 households involved in the business. We produce dairy products and vegetables. However, selling vegetables is difficult due to the market factors,” he said.
Ney Norbu Detsen representative, Pema Tenzin, in Lhuentse, said that the 12-member group is having a problem. “Previously, we used to produce vegetables and sell them on a small scale. The organic initiative supporting mustard oil production started two years ago. The production of mustard seed does not seem to be improving.”
He said: “The government initially supported the construction of a house where we have set up machines for mustard oil production. However, the turnover is still under question.”
Advisor at Organic Sector Development, NOFP, Kesang Tshomo, said that the organic target included food crops, livestock and forest products with a coordinated plan and investment and not just with vegetables. “However, while the plans and targets were set towards organic agriculture, investments did not follow. Therefore, the target was shifted since time is required to work on the plans when funds for investments are available.”
“The demand for vegetables is preferably organic, but the buyers are not ready to pay a premium price for the produce. Passage of time does not contribute to meeting a goal,” she said.
According to Kesang Tshomo, food security is a priority compared to the achievement of organic targets. Without the push of the government or the pull of the market, farmers cannot bear the responsibility of meeting the national target.
Only about Nu 377 million has been spent due to limited time and conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Between 2019 and 2023 with an investment of Nu 97 million, 1,418 metric tonnes of produce worth Nu 167 million sold within Bhutan.
Today, Bhutan has only four internationally certified products namely, lemongrass oil, edible flowers, ginger and blue pine essential oil. Additionally, there are 65 products certified by Bhutan Organic Standard.
Kesang Tshomo said that the Geographical Indication initiative has just started in Bhutan, which emphasises on the origin and unique qualities of the product.
“Farming communities have not yet benefited from organic premiums and certification costs will not be affordable if they have to pay for it, which is currently supported by the ministry. The current area under organic management is 14,100 acres,” she said.
Farmers’ group
and cooperatives
Currently, 110 farm co-operatives and 696 farmer’s groups are involved in organic production and marketing in the country – of which 415 are farmer groups and 23 are agricultural cooperatives, according to the DAMC. “Export of chili, beans and cauliflower earned about Nu 269 M surpassing the flagship target,” a report stated.
Bhutan aimed for complete organic adoption by discontinuing harmful chemicals. However, fertilizer and pesticides are still imported to facilitate the production of basic food and cash crops to ensure food security and income generation.
Bhutan initiated processes to promote organic farming began in 2003, followed by institutionalised programmes on National Framework for Organic Farming for Bhutan (NFOFB) in 2007 and the establishment of the NOP in 2008.
In 2012, the ministry started an Organic Master Plan along with the 12th Plan roadmap for organic agricultural strategies between 2018 and 2023.
The Programme Director of National Centre for Organic Agriculture, Kailash Pradhan, said that the NOFP has phased out but the NCOA for a long time has taken the role of supporting organic agriculture, but enforcing farming communities to go organic is not possible. “There is no specific budget allocation for organic programmes. Nu 10 M has been proposed for standardisation and certification.”
“For Bhutan, meeting the international market demand is a challenge, unable to produce the quantity demanded as well as the specifications and certification norms from importing countries,” he said. “Yet, efforts are made to supply the quantity possible both in domestic markets and abroad. Bhutanese product certification meets the international standard of IFOAM.”
The NCOA, he said, has been coordinating with other departments and agencies to work on the challenges faced in meeting the vision of organic Bhutan. “The private sectors involved in the entire process are crucial drivers of its success.”
Similarly, the principal agriculture officer at the NCOA, Norden Lepcha said that Bhutan has the potential to achieve this vision in case right investments are made in the 3 percent arable land.
“Investment in bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, hybrid seeds, incentives for farmers and research are required to incline towards this vision,” he said.