YK Poudel

Dagana — Residents of Dogak and Balleygang chiwogs, Gozhi gewog in Dagana will soon initiate an aloe-vera soap production plant to boost the local economy by repurposing the old, abandoned infrastructure of Dogak Community School.

Established in 1977, Dogak Community School was forced to shut down in 2017 after student enrollment dropped to as few as seven students. Since then, the campus has been left largely in disrepair, with its facilities—one academic block, staff quarters, toilets, and a football field—overgrown with thick bush.

During the recent Community Engagement Platform (CEP) meeting attended by over 25 participants, the people of Dogak and Balleygang discussed the proposal to transform the site into a plant for aloe-vera soap production.

This idea emerged from years of CEP activities aimed at identifying local business opportunities. This new initiative is expected to revitalise the community and offer a sustainable income source for local residents.

The residents have already submitted a proposal to the Department of Local Governance and Disaster Management (DLGDM) as a part of the European Union local governance support project on area based potential programme. An initial funding support of Nu 1 million for three years has been seeked along with technical assistance. The aim is to launch the soap plant as a cooperative effort involving both chiwogs.

Gozhi Gup Kinzang Tobgay said that although previous attempts to establish dairy farming and mushroom cultivation in the area had failed due to lack of youth engagement, the new soap production initiative has garnered enthusiasm. “We are hopeful that this project will provide the community with an alternative income stream.”

The school was handed over to the gewog administration while its land ownership and thram is under the Ministry of Education and Skills Development.

“The existing road connectivity and ready market is a bonus for this project,” he said.

Gozhi Mangmi Sangay Wangmo highlighted the role of the CEP, which has fostered the formation of nine community groups since 2018.

These groups have focused on various local initiatives, including farm road maintenance, agricultural and livestock production, irrigation and drinking water supply, women’s group encouragement programmes and water supply enhancement among others.

This assistance has come as a major boost for the farmers to re-use the existing resources and enhance the local economy, she said. “We encourage women and youth in the gewog to take the lead on this project.”

The proposed aloe-vera soap plant will leverage two key trends: Bhutan’s commitment to organic farming and the rising global demand for natural, eco-friendly products.

According to the project proposal, the project will begin with a pilot phase focused on cultivating aloe-vera and producing soap. Once this phase is completed successfully, there are plans to diversify the product range.

The initial phase of the project will require investment in equipment such as blenders, soap-making machines, mixing tanks, and safety gear. Once the necessary approvals and procedures are in place, the community will begin land preparation, aloe-vera cultivation, and the installation of production machinery.

As the venture grows, there are also plans to establish an e-commerce platform to sell the soap as well as collaborate with local retailers, hotels, souvenir shops, health stores, pharmacies, and supermarkets to expand the reach.