𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐝𝐝𝐬, 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

…𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒉𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

By Sonam Choden

Institutional support is playing a growing role in enabling youth-led agricultural ventures in rural areas. The case of Karma Wangdi, a young farmer from Lhuentse, shows how assistance from the Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme (CARLEP) supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has helped turn a small initiative into a sustainable farming enterprise. Through training, material assistance, and the introduction of technology, CARLEP contributed to the development of Karma’s mushroom farming business, reflecting the significance of such support for rural livelihoods.

Karma Wangdi, 25, from Berpa village under Khoma Gewog, began his farming journey in 2022 after three years of unemployment following his education. He started with a focus on Shiitake and Oyster mushroom cultivation. His venture into mushroom farming was shaped by a combination of social media exposure, encouragement from family members, and access to institutional aid.

Before starting mushroom farming, Karma was involved in maize cultivation, which is commonly practiced in his village. The initial idea to grow mushrooms came from his brother, who lives in Thimphu. “It was my brother who first came up with the idea, but due to financial constraints, he could not pursue it. That’s when I thought, maybe I can give it a try,” Karma said.

In 2022, motivated by stories on social media highlighting youth engagement in agriculture, Karma began cultivating mushrooms with limited knowledge and resources. He started with 500 Shiitake logs and 90 bags of Oyster mushrooms, funded by his mother. However, the outcome was disappointing. “I was only able to sell 11 kilograms of Shiitake mushroom. I think it was because I didn’t have enough knowledge about the cultivation techniques,” he said.
The failure of both Shiitake and Oyster mushroom cultivation that year highlighted the need for technical knowledge in farming. Recognising this, Karma reached out for support and later received assistance from CARLEP. Through the programme, he was provided with training and materials under a cost-sharing model. Items such as a net house, water storage tanks, containers, shape cutter, flexible pipes, plywood sheets, and a water tank were included in the support package.

The permanent structure required for farming was constructed at a total cost of Nu. 700,000, of which approximately Nu. 274,000 was contributed by the Dzongkhag administration as material support. Karma invested the remaining amount to complete the facility.

He expressed appreciation for the assistance provided. “I am very grateful to the Lhuentse Dzongkhag Administration and Dasho Dzongda for the support that made this possible,” he said.
Karma grows mushrooms twice a year, during the summer months, as the winter conditions are not favourable for cultivation. In 2023, he scaled up operations with about 700 bags of Oyster mushrooms during the first cycle. However, despite the increase, the returns remained low. “I think it was because it was still my first time working at this scale,” he said.

By the second cycle of 2023, his efforts began to yield better results. He earned a gross income of Nu. 51,400 and made a profit of Nu. 28,000. In 2024, he saw further progress, reporting a gross income of Nu. 204,000 and a profit of about Nu. 150,000. This improvement was linked to better farming practices and ongoing institutional support.
Karma currently sources straw for mushroom cultivation from Babtong, as his village lacks sufficient supply. He hopes to improve yields in future by sourcing higher quality straw.

In March 2024, CARLEP supported the installation of an Internet of Things (IoT) system at his farm. Karma said the new technology has made it easier to manage operations remotely. “It’s very convenient. If I ever have to travel out of the village for marketing, I can still monitor and manage the farm using my phone,” he said.
Despite the advantages of digital monitoring, Karma continues to face challenges. A key constraint is the manual sterilisation of straw, which remains a time-consuming process. “The sterilization machine is something I really need, but it’s just not affordable right now,” he said.

Marketing is another area with mixed results. While he has managed to expand his customer base to include local schools, Namdroling Dratsang, and nearby markets, the limited population in his village affects demand. In addition, his limited engagement with social media has made it difficult to promote his products widely. “I am not really active on social media, so I can’t promote much online,” he said.

According to Nima Dorji, Programme Support Officer at CARLEP, Karma’s venture is progressing well, even though he began farming later than others such as the Samsara Farming.
Looking ahead, Karma plans to join a collective farming initiative under Sonam Gyeltshen’s Samsara Farming in Kalapang. He also aims to begin spawn production in the future. However, challenges such as long travel distances to markets and high equipment costs remain. “If projects like CARLEP stop, it would be very difficult for farmers like me to continue growing,” he said.

Today, his farm is considered one of the largest mushroom farms in Lhuentse. Although limited labour availability has restricted him from expanding into other crops, he has started experimenting with kiwi cultivation as a supplementary activity. Karma said the mushroom business has made a positive difference in his family’s income. “Even though it’s hard now, I am not going to stop. I will keep working hard,” he said.

He added that more targeted support is needed for young farmers. “There are youth who are interested in farming, but it’s hard because we can’t afford the equipment. We need technical help,” he said. He also advised aspiring farmers to carefully assess the location, market access, and resource availability before starting their ventures.
Karma’s experience highlights the opportunities for youth in agriculture and the importance of training, infrastructure, and consistent support in making such ventures successful.