Tshering Namgyal | Mongar

Fifty-something civil servants, corporate, private employees and businessmen of Mongar have developed a kitchen garden in Mongar Middle Secondary School campus.

About five acres of jungle have been cleared below the school. It all started after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some go to collect topsoil and manure from Korilla. Others are engaged in bringing cow dungs from Konbar village. It is a busy affair, week in week out.

They are growing chili, tomato, beans, brinjal, raddish, cucumber, summer squash, and maize.

Tshering has planted vegetables on a 20-decimal land. Now that he cannot play archery because of physical distancing, he stays home and does gardening.

“Vegetables are becoming more expensive. It is high time we worked and produced enough to feed ourselves,” he said.

Ugyen Sonam, a senior supervisor with agriculture research and development centre in Wengkhar, was the first person to start the gardening. Many followed him.

“I have a kitchen garden at home but I wanted to encourage others to grow their own vegetables,” he said.

Sonam Cheki, a civil servant, is new to gardening. “I have come to love it.”

Similarly, employees of Mountain Hazelnut Venture in Lingmethang have also started growing vegetables in around two-acre land near their processing factory in Jangdung.