Since the completion of land development, the farmers of Dengzor under Orong gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag have started cultivating potato and the early chill for the market. Besides, the farmers are planning to cultivate ginger, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbages, onion, and beans in the coming month.

Before the intervention, the recently developed land was utilized less productively which often led to seasonal fallow land. Upon consultation, three HHs of Dengzor chiwog opted for land terracing on 9.47 acres of land predominated by smaller terraces and stones. Land development in this village began on 1st January 2020 led by the Dzongkhag Agriculture sector with Nu. 0.34M fund supports from CARLEP – IFAD and farmers’ labor contributions. The Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector has deployed machines from Central Machinery Unit and completed the work on 8th March 2020.

Land development was initiated to enable the use of small farm machinery such as power tillers thereby easing the farm labor.  Besides, it aims to enhance productivity through mechanization and enable the commercialization of vegetable thereby bringing more returns to the beneficiaries.

As they start producing vegetables, it will be directly marketed to schools. The linkage has been instigated through a school linking program with initiation from RAMCO, Mongar, Dzongkhag and Gewog Agriculture Sector and Local Administrations.

Moreover, the farmers are greatly excited by the prospect of upscaling vegetables such as chili, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbages, onion, and beans to reduce the import of these vegetables and promote organic vegetables.

Information updates from Pelden Tshomo, Sr. ES 11, Orong Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar

Reported By: Chhimi Lhamo, GKMO