Organic vegetables provide new livelihoods for Kochin farmers

KP Sharma

Tashichoeling, Samtse — For 78-year-old Kamala Tamang of Kochin in Tendruk, saving money in a bank had been unimaginable. That changed when her family turned to vegetable farming. 

Together with her daughter-in-law, Kamala grows vegetables, and the money she earns from selling them is saved with RENEW Microfinance's support.

“I earn about Nu 1,500 to Nu 2,000 each time the vegetables are sold,” she said.

The Kuchin Vegetable Production Group, formed in 2018, has been instrumental in transforming farming in Kochin.

Starting as a small group of farmers, it has expanded to over 27 members who now provide vegetables to schools, the Gyalsung Academy, and markets in Samtse and Thimphu.

The establishment of the group has provided farming families with access to regular markets and new opportunities.

According to Suk Rani Subba, the group’s secretary, the gewog administration supported the farmers for construction of a vegetable collection outlet and provided farming equipment such as power tillers and tents on a cost-sharing basis.

The gewog continues to assist the farmers, particularly in acquiring vegetable seeds through the gewog’s agriculture officer.

In contrast to the reliance on chemical fertilisers in many areas, Kochin’s farmers maintain their use of organic manure from cattle. Every household raises cattle to produce manure for their fields.

“Despite daily sales, we send two bolero loads of vegetables to Belboteng every Wednesday and five sacks to Samtse every Sunday,” Suk Rani said.

The group also supplies eight kilograms (kg) of coriander to Gyalsung Academy daily.  Suk Rani added that each member contributes at least 40 kg of vegetables a week.

For many farmers in the group, vegetable farming has become their primary source of income.

Khargu Raj Rai, 55, has been growing vegetables since 2008. Together with his wife, he works full-time on his farm, hiring laborers at Nu 300 a day when extra help is needed.

“When we grow vegetables, we earn small amounts regularly. Unlike other crops, vegetables grow quickly,” he said.  Khargu also raises sheep for manure to keep the land productive.

Similarly, 37-years-old Bina Limbu depends on vegetable farming to support her family.

With her husband working as a taxi driver, she hires 20 to 25 laborers each season to manage the work on her farm.

“Other crops like maize are destroyed by porcupines and monkeys, so I prefer vegetable farming,” said Bina Limbu.

Another member of the group, Man Singh Limbu, 45, also relies on vegetable farming as his main source of income.

He built a vegetable shed through a 20:80 cost-sharing scheme with the government.

The new vegetable shed, built with metal poles, has been a significant improvement in utility compared to his earlier bamboo structure which was not durable.

Despite their progress in organic farming, the group faces challenges, including concerns over a possible increase in the government’s cost-sharing ratio for agricultural equipment and the lack of recognition for hybrid seeds.

However, the farmers remain optimistic about the future, believing that continued support from the gewog agriculture center will enable them to increase their production.