The land that was mostly left fallow for years at Muhung, under Sherimuhung gewog, Mongar has now been put under upland paddy and commercial vegetable cultivation, after successful land development.

A total of 4.7 acres of land was predominated with small terraces and was non-feasible for farm mechanization. Most of the land was left uncultivated as it was labor-intensive and uneconomical for cultivation. In consultation with the gewog administration, the Dzongkhag Agriculture sector has implemented the land development for 7HHs (Female 4 and Male 3) willing to take up commercial vegetable production, with fund support from CARLEP-IFAD. The consolidation of the small terraces enabled easy access to deploy farm machinery, thereby addressing labor shortage for crop production.

After the land development, the farmers have cultivated leguminous plants to improve soil fertility for better yield and to generate an additional source of food and income. Currently, the farmers are engrossed in hand weeding in the paddy field. Besides paddy, chili and cabbage are also cultivated.

From the developed land, the farmers are expecting a bountiful harvest this year.

The project supports to cereals is aimed at enabling the farmers for farm resilience, crop diversification, and intensification.

Information updates from Tshokey, EA, Sherimuhung Gewog, Mongar.

Reported by Chhimi Lhamo, GKMO