Lhakpa Quendren

Sarpang—As Chhudzom and Jigmecholing gewogs in Sarpang are designated as production zones for Gelephu Mindfulness City, emerging technologies are expected to help engage young people in agricultural farming in these gewogs.

To equip local farmers with the necessary skills and knowledge to adopt SMART agricultural technologies, such as hydroponics and greenhouse farming, at least 27 young farmers participated in a day-long training at the Chhudzom Gewog Centre on February 1.

The training on controlled environment agriculture, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bhutan, was organised by the Japan Alumni Association of Bhutan (JAAB) in collaboration with the Sarpang’s agriculture sector.

The dzongkhag agriculture officer, Kinley Namgay, said that with Chhudzom having the highest school dropout rate in the dzongkhag, educated youth have the potential to embrace farming practices aligned with modern agricultural innovations and sustainability.

“With the upcoming GMC project, farmers here stand to gain access to new and expanded market opportunities,” he added. “The farmers in Chhudzom have long focused on organic farming, which is certified by the National Organic Programme.”

Kinley Namgay said an action plan would be developed based on proposals from the interested youths, after which funding support would be explored from the government or projects.

The participants were introduced to the tools and equipment used in setting up hydroponic systems and greenhouses, along with hands-on training on their assembly and maintenance, which are essential for optimising productivity in changing climatic conditions.

The general secretary of JAAB, Dr Pema Gyalpo (PhD), said that farmers should acquire the necessary skills in greenhouse and hydroponics technologies to adapt to the upcoming urbanisation of the GMC.

“Our objective is to inspire and equip individuals to become agro-entrepreneurs in the future, enabling them to supply high-tech food for the GMC,” he said. “For those interested in adopting agricultural techniques, we can help explore support through partnerships.”

Emerging technologies in agriculture can make farming more attractive and accessible by producing high-value crops with quick returns.

Twenty-nine-year-old Man Bahadur Ghaley from Sherubling ventured into farming after completing 12th grade in 2015. However, with lack of training and financial resources, he was unable to adopt innovative farming practices

“Modernised farming is less labour-intensive and leads to higher production, which will help address the labour shortage and promote sustainability,” he said. “With government support, we can transition to modern methods and will not face the marketing issues we face today, thanks to the GMC.”

Dorji Wangmo Tamang, 24, from Sherubling, said: “As the GMC brings new opportunities, we need to adopt commercial farming, with innovation and technology key to success. So far, we have only focused on self-sustainability due to marketing challenges.”

Thinley Dorji Tamang, 28, from Norbugang A, leased an 84-decimal private land for paddy cultivation after completing his 12th grade in 2016.

“We have established a greenhouse for vegetable farming and used alternatives like mixed cropping of vegetables and fruits to maximise the use of our limited land and boost income,” he said.

Chhudzom Gup Bishnu Prasad Rai said that the GMC project would boost population which in turn would enhance marketing opportunities.

“We don’t use chemicals; everything is organic. We have done well, but need to improve our skills and push further. Our gewog has the highest dropout rate in Sarpang, including university graduates,” he said.

The training aimed to raise awareness of climate change impacts on agriculture and provide technical knowledge for adopting hydroponics and greenhouse farming to prepare for modern farming challenges.

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