𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐭𝐬𝐞

…𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒕𝒔𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒘𝒐𝒈

By Leki Chungdon

In Singyegang village, Tashicholing Gewog, Samtse Dzongkhag, dragon fruit cultivation is emerging as a promising agricultural venture that offers potential for income diversification and increased local fruit production. Currently, only one farmer in the gewog grows the fruit, but the initiative led by K.N Sharma aims to expand its reach.

Since 2023, Sharma has been propagating dragon fruit saplings to supply farmers and home gardeners in Samtse and other parts of Bhutan. He identified Samtse as suitable for dragon fruit farming due to its favorable climate and soil conditions. Sharma said, “As an agriculturist with no employment opportunities after retirement, I observed that the paddy fields had remained uncultivated and unproductive due to a lack of irrigation facilities. Believing it is better to do something than nothing, I took the initiative to begin this project to put the land to use.”

The initiative has developed to the point where up to 200,000 saplings can be supplied per season, ensuring year-round availability for both commercial farmers and home gardeners interested in dragon fruit cultivation.

“This initiative aims to promote local fruit production while creating an alternative source of income for farmers in the region,” Sharma added. With growing demand for healthy fruit options, dragon fruit farming could become a viable livelihood for many in Samtse and other regions. Sharma offers guidance on plantation and management practices to interested individuals to ensure healthy and productive plants.

The initiative supports the government’s efforts to encourage crop diversification and increase domestic fruit supply, reducing reliance on imports. For those interested in starting dragon fruit farming or expanding existing orchards, Singyegang offers a practical entry point into this niche.

Subash Rana, Agriculture Extension Officer of Tashicholing Gewog, highlighted the benefits: “Introducing a high-value crop like dragon fruit offers multiple long-term advantages, especially in regions with suitable climate and infrastructure potential. It would diversify the agricultural base, reducing dependence on a single crop, and create opportunities for value addition through juice, jams, and dried fruit. This, in turn, would help farmers earn income year-round.” He added that high-value farming could attract young people back to agriculture, supporting sustainable rural development.

To support farmers, the Tashicholing Gewog agriculture sector has provided materials such as green nets, Sintex tanks, mulching plastic, and rabbit nets. However, due to budget limitations, no formal training programs have been offered. With adequate funding, training and technical support could improve farmers’ knowledge and productivity in the region. Officials emphasize that the broader vision for agriculture in Tashicholing (Sipsu) should align with national goals for food security, rural prosperity, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience.

Gup Samjog Khaling expressed optimism: “We feel proud and satisfied, yet recognize that there is still a long way to go. This step gives us hope that more such initiatives will emerge, allowing us to make a meaningful difference in rural communities through farming.”

The success of the initiative has inspired local residents to start kitchen gardens as a source of income and to improve food security. Local resident Benu Dhal said, “It is very impressive and has sparked great interest in the village to develop similar initiatives. The community now sees this as a good income source, and many have started kitchen farming. This initiative has definitely created new opportunities.”

Encouraged by Sharma’s guidance, many villagers have begun small-scale vegetable cultivation around their homes. Community members believe these initiatives can create employment, engage youth in agriculture, and enhance economic resilience. Local leaders hope the project will inspire others, positioning Tashicholing as a model for sustainable farming in the region.

In the dragon fruit plantation, insect issues are generally few, aside from fruit flies. However, diseases such as rust and brown or yellow spots frequently appear, often requiring chemical treatment for control.

The total investment in developing the farm was approximately Nu. 1,974,000, with around Nu. 60,000 spent on dragon fruit saplings. Sharma has earned about Nu. 120,000 so far. It is important to note that the investment also covered common farm activities such as land preparation, fencing, irrigation, and labor. The income generated is only the beginning, and it will take time for the farm to recover the full investment as plants mature and productivity improves.