𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

…𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒑 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔

By Tashi Tshewang

Farmers from Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag recently participated in a nationwide exchange program that gave them practical exposure to advanced agricultural and livestock technologies. Led by the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector, this initiative supports ongoing efforts to modernize rural farming, improve food self-sufficiency, and build climate resilience in Bhutan’s agriculture sector.

The program involved visits to four research and development centres, each specializing in different innovations. Farmers interacted with experts, observed live demonstrations, and explored technologies aimed at increasing productivity and sustainability.

At the Khangma Agricultural Research and Development Centre (ARDC), participants learned about advanced mushroom cultivation and improved cereal crop varieties. They gained practical knowledge of spawn production and sustainable growing techniques to help diversify village incomes.

The visit to Wengkhar ARDC focused on soilless farming. Farmers were introduced to hydroponic systems and large greenhouses designed to maximize water use and provide year-round yields, offering solutions suited for climate-affected areas.

At Lingmethang ARDC, the focus was on high-value horticulture. Farmers learned modern orchard management, grapevine propagation, and fruit cultivation methods, highlighting the potential for niche crops such as grapes in higher altitude regions.

The final stop at the Bumthang Livestock Research and Development Centre (LRDC) introduced farmers to modern beekeeping. Training covered hive management, colony care, and honey production, presenting apiculture as a profitable alternative to traditional farming.

Officials from the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector said initiatives like this are key to bridging the gap between research institutions and rural practitioners. Engaging directly with new technologies equips farmers to adopt sustainable and locally suitable practices. This exchange program forms part of a wider strategy to empower farmers in Samdrup Jongkhar with skills, exposure, and confidence to innovate within their communities.

Phuntsho Wangdi, Agriculture Extension Supervisor of Serthi Gewog, said, “The primary aim of our exchange program was to expose farmers to innovative agricultural technologies, enhance their understanding of modern farming practices, and encourage sustainable methods within their communities. By facilitating direct interactions between farmers and researchers at demonstration plots, we sought to bridge the gap between research and practical application. These objectives were largely met. The farmers showed great enthusiasm during their visits and reported gaining valuable insights they are eager to implement. This firsthand exposure has significantly boosted their motivation.”

Building on this success, plans are underway to replicate similar exposure visits for other gewogs and farmer groups. The program has shown potential to accelerate technology transfer, and efforts continue to extend benefits to a wider farming population.

He added, “To ensure effective implementation of new technologies, we will conduct regular field visits by extension officers, organize on-site demonstrations, and establish farmer-to-farmer knowledge-sharing platforms. Farmers who participated in the initial visits will also be encouraged to serve as focal persons or lead farmers to assist with local adaptation and peer learning. Many of the showcased technologies, such as improved seed varieties, integrated pest management, water-saving irrigation, and soil fertility management, are scalable and suited to Samdrup Jongkhar’s conditions. Successful scalability depends on access to inputs, ongoing technical support, and farmers’ willingness to invest time and resources.”

To further support farmers, additional training on hands-on application, resource mobilization, and business planning would be beneficial. Strengthening extension agents’ capacity and establishing local farmer field schools could also help ensure effective adoption.

Pema Yangdon, Senior Horticulture Officer, said, “At ARDC Wengkhar, our research is problem-based. Every technology we develop addresses specific challenges faced by farmers. For example, we introduced a hot callusing technique for walnut grafting that keeps the graft union temperature at 27°C. This improves graft success rates from about 30% in open fields to 76% in controlled environments. We have also developed netting structures and protected agriculture systems for fruit and vegetable cultivation. These help control pests, improve fruit quality, and enable year-round vegetable production.”

She added, “To make farming more efficient, we have integrated these technologies with IoT systems, allowing farmers to remotely manage their activities and reduce labor. We also developed a low-cost ultrasonic fogger linked to IoT for year-round mushroom production. This maintains optimum humidity for consistent yields.”

These innovations have received positive feedback from farmers. Many expressed excitement at seeing the technologies in action. Some have already adopted these practices. For example, about ten farmers have implemented additive wide-row intercropping of maize with vegetables following trials.

She concluded, “Despite the enthusiasm, challenges remain in scaling these technologies. A major hurdle is funding; many farmers cannot afford the technologies even on a cost-sharing basis. There is an expectation that these should be free, which is not sustainable. We need to explore alternative funding and provide more training on resource mobilization and business planning to help farmers invest.”

Jamyang Singye, a participant from Samdrupchholing village, shared, “At ARDC Wengkhar, I learned about advanced technologies like hydroponics. This exposure gave me new knowledge and perspectives on modern farming.”

The program enabled direct interaction between farmers and experts, allowing observation of live demonstrations and exploration of technologies to improve productivity and sustainability. This experience enhanced the farmers’ understanding of innovative practices and their local applications.

He added, “I had previous training in mushroom cultivation and commend the support from ARDC. Challenges remain, such as accessing quality seeds and infrastructure. Addressing these would improve efficiency and productivity.”

Damudar Regmi, another participant, said, “The mushroom processing technology was most useful to me. Once I secure a budget, I plan to start this process at home. Traditional farming was labor-intensive, but modern techniques require less labor and are more efficient. I hope to receive financial support and guidance from agencies to begin.”

He expressed enthusiasm about applying what he learned. His vision reflects a growing interest among youth to adopt smarter and sustainable farming.

He added, “With this knowledge, I now see farming differently. I am especially interested in mushroom cultivation, as it suits my village’s climate. I need financial support and mentorship to start. With the right backing, this can become a sustainable income source for my community.”