𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝟗𝟏 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐓𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫

By Leki Chungdon

Coinciding with the 17th Coronation Anniversary of His Majesty The King, the Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag Administration, in collaboration with the CARLEP Office, distributed 91 mini tillers to farmers from eight gewogs under a 50:50 cost-sharing scheme. The initiative, supported by the CARLEP project, aims to promote farm mechanization, ease agricultural drudgery, and enhance rural livelihoods across the gewogs.

A total of 91 mini tillers were distributed among the gewogs as follows: Boomdeling (11), Yangtse (6), Yallang (6), Khamdang (20), Toedtsho (6), Tongshang (21), Ramjar (6), and Jamkhar (15). During the distribution, beneficiaries also received practical demonstrations on the operation, maintenance, and safe use of the machines to ensure proper handling and effective utilization in the field. Officials from the Dzongkhag Administration expressed hope that the introduction of farm machinery will encourage more farmers to adopt mechanized farming practices, reduce dependency on manual labour, and contribute to the overall agricultural development of the dzongkhag.

Ugyen Wangdi, a CARLEP official, said that the mini tillers were introduced as women-friendly farm machinery, designed to be lightweight and easy to operate, particularly on sloping agricultural land. He noted that the initiative is not limited to Trashiyangtse but extends across CARLEP project areas in six eastern dzongkhags. “The 50:50 cost-sharing model follows MoAL guidelines. However, the project has incorporated additional conditions and criteria based on the priorities of the donor agency, IFAD,” he said.

He outlined the key conditions, which include a strict non-transferability clause to ensure that the machines remain with the intended beneficiaries. “Recipients must not sell or transfer the tillers, allowing them to directly benefit from the support,” he explained. Beneficiaries are also required to contribute 50 percent of the total cost to encourage ownership, responsibility, and long-term maintenance. They must also ensure that the machinery is actively used for productive agricultural purposes.

On eligibility, Wangdi said that priority is given to women-headed households actively engaged in farming, with only one beneficiary allowed per household. In exceptional cases, households sharing a house number but recognized as independent entities may also qualify. Applicants must be registered in the Farmers Registration System and currently engaged in agriculture. Farmers who previously received support for agricultural land development and have demonstrated active use of the land are given priority. To prevent duplicate assistance, beneficiaries who received support during the 2024–2025 fiscal year are not eligible. Dzongkhag officials are required to conduct verification using house numbers, thram numbers, and CID records.

He also said that the CARLEP project is scheduled to conclude in December 2025, and any continuation of support will depend on future project decisions. He added that the mini tiller distribution was not part of the original project design but was later incorporated following a request from the Royal Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, which was approved by IFAD for fiscal year 2024-2025. “The overall objective is to reduce farm drudgery, especially among women farmers, address acute rural labour shortages, and accelerate farm mechanization.

This support aims to empower women in agriculture and improve on-farm productivity across the eastern region,” he said. An Agriculture Extension Officer said that before the handover of the mini tillers, beneficiaries received hands-on training from the dealer on proper operation, handling, and maintenance of the machines. He added that the gewog agriculture offices will support farmers in reporting any technical issues to the dealer, who, under the agreed warranty terms, will provide free servicing and technical assistance for one year.

He highlighted that before the introduction of mini tillers, farmers commonly faced labour shortages, time-intensive land preparation, high costs of hiring draft animals, and difficulties cultivating steep or heavy terrain. These constraints, he said, significantly limited agricultural productivity and household income. “I have received encouraging and constructive feedback regarding the training and demonstrations provided. Farmers particularly appreciated that the machines are women-friendly, easy to operate, and affordable through the 50:50 cost-sharing model,” he said.

Chimi Drakpa, a Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer, said that the distribution of mini tillers, coinciding with the Coronation Anniversary of His Majesty The King, was aimed at accelerating farm mechanization, reducing agricultural drudgery, addressing rural labour shortages, and strengthening livelihoods and food security through modernized farming practices. “The beneficiaries were selected from each gewog based on specific criteria set by the CARLEP project to ensure a fair and need-based allocation,” he said.

He explained that the eligibility criteria prioritized farmers actively engaged in agriculture, with special emphasis on women-headed households and persons with disabilities, in alignment with efforts to support the feminization of farming. Consideration was also given to households in areas where agricultural land development has been implemented, to maximize the impact of mechanization support. He added that the dzongkhag’s strategy includes converting fallow land into productive farmland, promoting gender-friendly machinery, intensifying crop production through mechanization, expanding land development, diversifying crops, and strengthening integration into value chains.

To ensure continued monitoring, he said gewog extension officers will maintain records of distributed mini tillers and conduct regular field visits to assess their condition and utilization. “The dzongkhag, in coordination with gewog administrations, will assist beneficiaries in reporting any technical issues to the dealer. Under the warranty agreement, the dealer will provide free servicing and technical support for one year,” he added.

Drakpa emphasized that the initiative will enable farmers to cultivate land more efficiently, minimize dependence on draft animals, reduce labour costs, and ease the physical burden associated with manual farming. “Mini tillers are lightweight, user-friendly, and can be operated comfortably by women, making them highly suitable for our terrain. Mechanization not only improves productivity but also makes farming more attractive to youth, while ensuring faster and more efficient land preparation,” he said.

Dechen Tshomo, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am extremely pleased to receive a mini tiller from the government, as it means I no longer have to rely on borrowing machinery from others. Until now, managing agricultural work without a tiller has been extremely challenging, especially since the nearest owner was located far from my farm. Previously, I had to hire a tiller, incurring not only the rental cost of the machine but also transportation expenses, which was quite burdensome. As I do not cultivate rice and focus primarily on maize, finger millet, and a few vegetables, having my own mini tiller will significantly ease the cultivation process and improve efficiency.”