Neten Dorji

Mongar—At a time when young Bhutanese are either exploring opportunities to travel overseas or more secure civil service jobs, 28-year-old Kelzang Wangchuk did something unusual—he ventured into horticulture, seeking a sustainable livelihood through agriculture.

From Banjar, Tsamang in Mongar, he returned to his village three years ago, after graduating with a degree in B Sc. Sustainable Development from the College of Natural Resources, with the hope of putting his knowledge to use.

What really inspired him to take this plunge was a pivotal visit to the Agriculture Research Development Centre (ARDC) in Wengkhar.

“During my visit to the ARDC, I learned about income opportunities in the fruit nursery sector and decided to pursue it,” Kelzang Wangchuk says.

But starting a nursery from scratch was no easy task.

He had no prior experience and had to build his knowledge from the ground up.

Determined to succeed, he spent time at the ARDC learning the essentials of plant nursery management.

“The learning curve was steep,” he says.

In 2021, Kelzang Wangchuk submitted a proposal to the Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Program (CARLEP) to establish what would become the Khemsar Horticulture Nursery.

The approval of his proposal, along with grants from the programme, marked a significant turning point in his life.

With support and guidance from the ARDC, he began his venture by starting small—cultivating a few Avocado plants on a 50-decimal land within the ARDC premises.

The training he received at ARDC, combined with his passion for horticulture, fuelled his ambition.

Soon after, he discovered a matching grant programme that provided 50 percent financial support from CARLEP, enabling him to expand his nursery.

He also secured loans from His Majesty’s Kidu relief support loan scheme through the Queen’s Project Office.

“I would have never begun my nursery if it weren’t for the support from the Queen’s Project, ARDC and CARLEP,” he says. “My family members also played a bigger role in getting me to where I am today.”

In his first year of operation, Kelzang Wangchuk invested Nu 0.85 million into the nursery, including contributions from the grant. He earned more than Nu 0.194 million through the sale of avocados, kiwi and walnuts to the Million Fruit Tree Programme and the Fruits Intensification Programme.

Kelzang Wangchuk manages a nursery specialising in cultivating high-value fruit plants. And focusing on quality fruit seedlings.

He is also passionate about supporting local entrepreneurship and encourages unemployed youth to start similar ventures.

He believes that by tapping into the growing demand for fruit plants, young entrepreneurs can build successful businesses, achieve financial independence, and contribute to the agricultural sector’s growth.

“People do not utilise their skills seriously after they receive training. We need to use our skills to start businesses,” he says. “If we apply our skills, there are numerous opportunities at home.”

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