The cooperative generates between Nu 2 million and 3 million annually

Lhakpa Quendren

Panbang, Zhemgang—The Panbang Youth Cooperative (PYC) in Zhemgang, which started with vegetable cultivation five years ago, is now expanding its efforts to ensure food security and self-sufficiency for the community.

Founded in 2019 by five university graduates, the farm is now managed by 23 young members.

The cooperative cultivates a variety of crops, including vegetables, coffee, cereals, watermelon, and pineapples on 14 acres of government-leased land in Andala, Ngangla gewog. It also runs a pilot hydroponic project with 150 units.

“We are farmers by choice, learning by doing,” says Leki Chedup, the 32-year-old chairperson of the cooperative. “We believe in self-sufficiency through our contributions to the local, national, and international economy.”

The cooperative supplies vegetables to Panbang Primary School, Sonamthang Central School, monasteries, and various local communities.

“There are no marketing challenges. Currently, we are unable to meet the demand even within the community,” he added. “During summer, we purchase vegetables from higher altitude areas such as Paro, Thimphu, Wangdue, and Mongar, and import vegetables during the two-month lean season to maintain an uninterrupted supply.”

Leki Chedup plans to expand the fruit and coffee plantation on the remaining unused land of the farm. “Coffee takes about three years to fully mature, but we expect some plants to begin yielding next year. We are constantly exploring new ways to grow and improve,” he said.

In addition to crops, the cooperative runs a poultry farm with approximately 2,000 chickens. The cooperative has supplied around 8 million eggs to Panbang, Zhemgang, Nganglam, Gelephu, and Thimphu.

The farm also manages over 28,000 fish across three ponds, including common carp, grass carp, and 2,000 golden mahseer, which are yet to be harvested.

The cooperative generates between Nu 2 million and 3 million annually, with the hydroponics project expected to add another Nu 25,000 to its income. After covering salaries, the cooperative allocates the remaining funds to its reserve and company security funds.

Leki Chedup said that since its establishment, the cooperative has prioritised investment in infrastructure development. “We have a provision to provide commissions in case of profit, but we haven’t been able to do that yet,” he added.

The cooperative farm operates under a contract farming model, where locals grow maize and share 30 percent of the harvest with the cooperative.

The cooperative’s biggest  challenge, human-wildlife conflict, particularly due to its proximity to Manas Park. Despite installing electric fences and chain-link fencing to protect the crops, wild boars continue to damage the produce.

“We initially installed electric fences, but they were ineffective against wild boars. Chain-link fencing works better, though porcupines and rats still cause damage,” Leki Chedup said. “There is no permanent solution to human-wildlife conflict. We were only able to harvest 40 percent of our maize crop.”

The farm is connected to a water source about two kilometres away, which provides sufficient water for its needs, and is accessible by road.

The Bhutan Foundation, UNDP Bhutan, the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Co-operatives, the Green Climate Fund, and the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector have supported the cooperative.