Agriculture: In the paddy fields of Berti village under Trong gewog, richly ripened paddy awaits to be harvested. The paddy was not touched by wild animals this year unlike in the past.

This was made possible with the installation of electric fencing by the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in Tingtibi two years ago.

Sonam Norbu, 34, is one of the farmers who will be harvesting his entire crop this year. “We did not have such high yield in the past as wild boars and deer usually destroyed half the crops,” he said.

Tashi Dema, 31, said she does not have to guard her crops like before. In the past, farmers had to construct sheds in the fields and stay overnight to guard against wild life attacks. “My paddy in all four plots are safe,” she said.

Dorji Lhamo, 39, said that it was as though the farmers were sharecropping with the wild animals as at least half of their crops were lost every year. “I have paddy on almost two acres of land and it’s good to see them safely ripening,” she said.

Other farmers said of the total yield, farmers are able to harvest more than 90 percent of their crops. Some is still lost to birds.

Trong gewog’s agriculture extension officer MB Monger said Berti received the electric fencing under the Rural Livelihood Project. The fencing stretches for three kilometres.

Nima Wangdi | Berti

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