Despite the supports being rendered, producing an adequate amount of fodder has been a challenge for dairy farmers in Eastern Bhutan due to limited land. Although the fodder shortages in the region are addressed through fodder development on fallow and marginal land to some extent, the fodder availability in winter season remains scanty, resulting in lower milk production thereby creating a greater gap between demand and supply for dairy products in the market.

As a part of the intensification and expansion of dairy production, the Dzongkhag Livestock Sector, Trashigang plans for winter oat cultivation to address the fodder shortages in the lean season. With the fund support from CARLEP-IFAD, the Dzongkhag Livestock sector has purchased 18 MT of oat seeds and has distributed to more than 440HHs of dairy intensive gewogs such as Samkhar, Yangnyer, Radhi, Phongmey, Shongphu, Kanglung, Udzorong, Biduung, Bartsham, Thrimshing, and Kangpar.

The farmers will begin oat cultivation after the paddy harvest and it is expected to feed cattle of small-holder dairy farmers during the dry winter season.  The objective of the program is to ensure adequate fodder in winter and thereby, maintain steady milk production.

The winter oat seeds are also being supported in other eastern Dzongkhag for the same purpose.

Information Updates: Naina Singh Tamang, DLO, Trashigang

Reported by: Chhimi Lhamo, GKMO, CARLEP