𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

…𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔

By Yeshi Dolma

Despite years of government initiatives and increasing concern over food security, fewer young people are willing to work in the fields or rear livestock. Farming and livestock rearing, once central to rural life, are now seen by many as a last resort rather than a preferred livelihood. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) acknowledges that rural depopulation and youth outmigration have left the sector struggling but maintains that systemic reforms under the 13th Five Year Plan (FYP) aim to make agriculture more profitable, modern, and appealing to younger generations.

Sonam Pelgen, Senior Planning Officer at the Policy and Planning Division of MoAL, said that the agricultural sector continues to face the brunt of rural depopulation and youth outmigration. “Besides the regular activities of enhancing services, inputs, infrastructure development, value addition, and marketing as prioritized in the 13th FYP, the Ministry is undertaking several transformative initiatives to make agriculture attractive, profitable, and a source of gainful employment,” he said.

According to him, the challenges in agriculture are multifaceted and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The Ministry is therefore pursuing a wide range of interventions to address these issues, ranging from mechanisation and cost-sharing systems to crop insurance and digital farm registration.

He explained that mechanisation has been a key focus in reducing the drudgery traditionally associated with farming. Farmers are being supported with power tillers, tractors, rice dehuskers, and other tools to make fieldwork easier and more productive. “Recently, over 400 mini-tillers were distributed to farmers in six eastern districts,” he said. The Ministry is also promoting technology-based farming methods such as automated protected agriculture and hydroponics to attract young people interested in modern techniques.

Commercial chirup farms, another major initiative, are being established to serve as model farms employing modern methods and collective youth participation. These farms, involving Dessuups and young farmers, aim to create an enterprising culture and build entrepreneurial skills among rural youth. “These farms will not only act as learning hubs for modern agriculture but will also help develop business acumen for future agribusiness,” he said.

Infrastructure development remains another priority. The Ministry plans to construct 24 centrally funded irrigation schemes during the 13th FYP, alongside numerous local government-led projects. A major push is also being made in the construction of chain-link fencing, with Nu. 5.1 billion worth of works planned to protect crops from wildlife incursions. “Construction of 83 schemes began in the last fiscal year, and another 130 are planned for the current year,” he noted.

To make farming more investment-friendly, the Ministry has institutionalized cost-sharing arrangements for agriculture, livestock, and marketing ventures. The mechanism is designed to help farmers transition from subsistence to commercial operations while ensuring accountability and ownership. “By co-investing in farm machinery, inputs, and infrastructure, farmers- especially young ones- are empowered to operate their enterprises sustainably with technical support from the government,” he explained.

The Ministry is also rolling out digital systems to formalize the farming sector. The Farmers Registration System, along with the Piggery and Poultry Farm Registration Systems, will capture details such as land ownership, farm size, livestock health, and biosecurity standards. These databases are expected to streamline access to government support, credit facilities, insurance, and market linkages, enabling more targeted interventions.

Acknowledging the acute labor shortage in the sector, the Ministry is piloting a regulated system for engaging foreign workers in agriculture and livestock farms. This move, Pelgen said, will help farmers focus on higher-value, knowledge-based activities such as agribusiness management, processing, and service delivery.

He also highlighted efforts to promote agricultural technologies such as precision farming tools, greenhouse cultivation, sensor-based irrigation, feed formulation, and livestock traceability systems to make the sector more data-driven and appealing to technology-oriented youth.

In addition, the Ministry has introduced a National Crop and Livestock Insurance Scheme to protect farmers from losses caused by wildlife conflict, climate-related disasters, and diseases. “Between 19 to 43 percent of crops are lost annually due to human-wildlife conflict,” Pelgen said. The insurance scheme, scheduled for formal rollout on November 11, 2025, will offer farmers greater financial security and confidence to continue farming.

“In essence, our approach goes beyond short-term incentives,” he said. “We are addressing structural and systemic barriers through technological innovation, entrepreneurship development, institutional reform, and risk mitigation. The goal is to create a modern agricultural landscape that is profitable, resilient, and future-ready- one where the youth can see meaningful and sustainable careers.”

While the Ministry’s plans sound promising, conditions on the ground present a far more complex reality.
Tashi Dendup, Gup of Chali Gewog, said that out of a working-age population of 522 people between 15 and 60 years, only about 100 young people are involved in agriculture once students are excluded. “One of the main challenges they face is the nature of the land- it is steep and unsuitable for mechanized farming. Even if power tillers were available, the lack of proper roads makes them unusable, and building roads could destroy the farmland,” he said.

He explained that most farmers in his gewog cultivate only for self-sufficiency. “Individual farmers do not have enough land or capital to engage in commercial farming, and the government does not fund individual projects. Group-based commercial ventures have not succeeded here either,” he added. Older people dominate farm work, while younger residents take up seasonal or contract-based jobs that offer higher pay.

Dendup also noted the cultural perception of farming as a low-status occupation. “Even in schools, students who say they want to become farmers are discouraged by their teachers. This lack of early encouragement means that youth never see agriculture as an inspiring career,” he said.

In contrast, Sonam Zangmo, Gup of Chang Gewog under Thimphu Dzongkhag, said she has observed a gradual change in some areas. “In places like Yusipang and Hongtsho, I have seen more young people involved in agricultural activities. Many are between 25 and 50 years old, and students also help during their school breaks or vacations. It is encouraging to see that interest in farming is starting to take root in certain areas,” she said.

Among the few who have chosen to stay in the sector is Hom Raj Gurung, a university graduate who now works full-time as a farmer. “Many young people today prefer white-collar jobs, which is why participation in agriculture remains low. Farming is hard work and markets are often limited, especially in rural areas,” he said.

But for him, perseverance pays off. “When I started, I had only two cows-today, I have five and plan to open a dairy farm. I also began with one beehive box, and now I manage several in both Bumthang and Thimphu,” he shared.
Hom Raj said that when he began beekeeping, many told him it was not worth the effort, but he decided to continue anyway. “One common mistake people make is rushing into farming with borrowed money, expecting quick results. Agriculture takes time- it’s about patience, consistency, and learning. With growing government support, if you are willing to stay the course, success will come,” he said.

He added that many farmers tend to copy others’ success stories without considering diversification. “When one person earns from selling chillies, everyone starts planting chillies. As a result, prices crash. Diversification is crucial if we want agriculture to grow sustainably,” he said.

For younger voices like Phuntsho Dorji, a 17-year-old student, agriculture is not yet a first choice but remains a fallback option. “I help my family on the farm during school breaks and whenever I can. After I finish school, I plan to look for other jobs, but if I can not find one, I will return to farming,” he said.

Phuntsho sees mostly older people working in the fields in his village. “Farming is physically demanding- it involves heavy loads and long hours- but during the season, the income from selling chillies and potatoes is quite good,” he said. Still, he admits that distractions are growing. “With social media, it’s easy to lose focus on farm work,” he added.

The Ministry’s policies clearly aim to reshape the image of agriculture from a subsistence activity to an enterprising, technology-driven sector. But as the voices from the villages reveal, the change will take more than policy blueprints and machinery distribution.

Land constraints, poor road access, labor shortages, and deep-seated social perceptions continue to hold back youth participation. While some gewogs are witnessing renewed interest, others struggle to maintain even basic engagement.

The future of the sector may depend on how effectively the Ministry’s reforms reach the ground- whether modern tools, digital systems, and insurance schemes can translate into tangible benefits for young farmers. For now, as Hom Raj’s story shows, the path to a thriving, youth-driven agricultural sector still demands patience, innovation, and belief in the land.