In an effort to promote sustainable agriculture, enhance water-use efficiency and climate-resilient farming technologies in Bhutan, a five-day Hands-on Training on Installation of Automated Irrigation Systems was conducted on 1.25 acres of orange orchard at Budur under Minjey Gewog. The training was spearheaded by Mr. Kinley Wangdi and Mr. Thinley Norbu, both of whom had previously undergone a training at Maedtsho Gewog. This was organized for all Gewog Agriculture Extension Supervisors, aligning with the broader vision of scaling up and replicating the similar programme implemented by CARLEP Project on Installation of Automated Drip Irrigation and Fertigation Systems at Maedtsho Gewog.

The primary objectives of the training were as follows:

1. To build technical capacity among Gewog Agriculture Extension Supervisors in the design, installation, and maintenance of automated irrigation systems.
2. To replicate successful models of irrigation technology implementation from Maedtsho Gewog to other suitable regions.
3. To improve water-use efficiency and reduce manual labour in irrigation through automation.

Moreover, this technology has been replicated at Obi under Maedtsho gewog spanning on 2.1 acres orange orchard, and two sites at Wambur under Tsaenkhar Gewog covering 4.6 acre.

The Programme was supported by CARLEP Funds.

-Dzongkhag Administration, Lhuentse