YK Poudel

The government plans to import high-quality combine harvesters from Japan to address the country’s declining farm labour force, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Younten Phuntsho said during 10th Meet-the-Press on December 7.

The shortage and delays in combine harvester availability during the peak paddy harvesting season have sparked national discussions.

Lyonpo said that the government is currently negotiating with Japan to acquire additional combine harvesters.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Lamgong-Wangchang, Sonam Tashi, raised similar concerns during the recent National Assembly session.

“The outdated machines are causing delays in the paddy harvest in Paro due to frequent breakdowns and the overall shortage,” he said, adding that the government can help farmers to purchase the combine harvesters at subsidised rate to interested individuals or groups.

Sonam Tashi said that the Farm Machinery Corporation Limited, which is responsible for maintaining these harvesters, faces challenges with aging machines, specifically those that are 10 years old, and needs replacements. The limited number of harvesters has also led to disputes among farmers, often requiring legal intervention, he added.

Lyonpo said that operating a combine harvester requires specialised training and incurs high costs, making private ownership challenging. Each harvester costs about Nu 1.5 million.

Currently, 21 out of 24 harvesters are operational, with 20 of them located in Paro.

To support farmers, he said that the economic stimulus programme offers concessional loans at a 4 percent interest rate through financial institutions. These collateral-free loans, up to Nu 1 million, can be used for various agricultural activities, including the purchase of power tillers.

The 13th Plan includes initiatives to address the decline in paddy production. These initiatives include improving irrigation channels and continuing land management programmes.

To date, over 26,886 acres of land have been developed to enhance farm productivity without compromising land resources.