Pema Lhaden, a lead farmers from Peytsangbi

Despite being illiterate, Pema Lhadon, a 37-year-old, a group member of a vegetable group from Peytsangbi under Tsakaling gewog, Mongar did not stop learning new farming practices. Today, she is one of the female lead farmers who have participated in the lead farmer training program at ARDC Wengkhar in FY 2017-2018. Pema has established a mixed fruit orchard of Pear and Persimmon. Her model farm serves as an outreach and demonstration orchard to encourage others to take up similar farming.

Since the training, she has actively extended her service and trained 132 farmers (102 female and 30 Male) from Tormashong, Paytsangbi, Takhambi and Ngyertsi in vegetable cultivation, orchard establishment and orchard management along with Geog Extension Officer.

At present, Pema Lhaden is more focused on vegetable cultivation as a means for income generation and earning a good income from the sale at the local market. In FY2019-20, she earned an income of Nu.1,41,000 from the sale of vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, chili, radish, mustard green, potato, carrot, coriander, spring onion, and beans.

Since her orchard is newly established, she hopes in a few years she will be able to make a good income from her orchard as well.

Reported and Submitted By ARDC Wengkhar