Livestock farming is a major source of livelihoods for the farmers of Minjey gewog in Lhuentse Dzongkhag. In an average, a household owns the cattle ranging from 3-20 heads. The livestock products are either sold in the market for money or traded among themselves for other essential goods.

Realizing this dependency of farmers on livestock, the Dzongkhag Livestock sector initiated the fencing of 19 acres of fodder and pasture land with barbed wires. The barbed wires were purchased on cost sharing mechanism of 60:40, where 60% of the total cost was borne from the support of CARLEP.

A total of 19 livestock farmers walled their pasture land with the barbed wires and have already started seeing the immense benefit of the fence. Mr. Tashi Tshering who is one of the 19 beneficiaries said, “I have got rid off the stray and neighbor’s animals entering my private pasture land.” Not limiting to this, Mr. Tashi also got to well feed his animals in winter unlike in the past where his cattle had to let free for the open grazing.

To further have these barbed under maximum utilization throughout all seasons, the Dzongkhag Livestock sector provided the farmers with fodder seeds especially the grass mix, oat grass and white clover as per the farmer’s preference.

Having this program of fencing the pasture and fodder land benefitting the farmers, the Dzongkhag Livestock is targeting to have another 37 acres of the land fenced with barbed wires this year.

The CARLEP which intends in promotion and development of diary value chain in the region, it is expected that such activity for fodder development shall significantly contribute in the achievement of the programme’s goals and objectives.

-Update by: Tashi Tshering, Gewog Livetsock Officer, Minjey.

-Compiled by: Karma Wangmo