𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐀 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫’𝐬 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬

…𝒂 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔

By Sonam Choden

Youth involvement in agriculture remains vital for sustaining rural economies and ensuring food security, despite the challenges faced by traditional farming. The story of a young entrepreneur from eastern Bhutan shows how innovation, persistence, and the effective use of resources can transform agricultural livelihoods.

Sonam Gyeltshen, 29, from Ganglapong, Tsamang Gewog in Mongar, demonstrates the resilience and innovation needed to navigate the difficulties of rural farming. After graduating from Gyelpozhing Higher Secondary School in 2017, Sonam quickly took on responsibilities including marriage and fatherhood of three children. Although he planned to pursue a diploma, financial constraints prevented further education. At this turning point, his wife encouraged him to consider mushroom farming as an alternative livelihood.

In 2018, Sonam conducted a market survey. “When I did a market survey, I saw mushroom farming was not common in the east like it was in the west. That’s when I knew there was potential here,” he said. His research revealed an underdeveloped mushroom market in eastern Bhutan compared to the west.

Recognizing this opportunity, Sonam initially worked as a site supervisor at a private construction company to save money. Despite his efforts, capital remained limited until he connected with the Agriculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC). “Through ARDC, I received 100 spawn bottles under the Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihood Enhancement Program (CARLEP). That support helped me start my farm in 2019,” he explained.

With this assistance, he launched Samsara Integrated Agriculture Farm in 2019. The early years were difficult. “The first three years were the hardest,” Sonam recalled. “High humidity and fluctuating temperatures led to outbreaks of pink mold and other infections, resulting in repeated crop failures.”

The farm’s relatively low altitude made these challenges worse. To address this, Sonam introduced Internet of Things (IoT) technology to automate environmental controls. “Installing an IoT system changed everything,” he said. “I can now control the temperature and humidity remotely using my phone.” Using the eWeLink mobile app, he monitors and regulates conditions even when away from the farm.

This technological shift greatly improved productivity. Cultivation bags increased from 300 to 2,000, and yields rose from 650 kilograms to 2,980 kilograms. Income grew from Nu. 204,000 to Nu. 986,000, with net profit increasing from Nu. 149,000 to Nu. 836,000.

Diversifying production became another key strategy. In 2020, Sonam started producing and selling mushroom spawn, reaching annual sales of 10,000 bottles. He also grows seasonal fruits like avocado and vegetables such as onions, which helped stabilize income and repay his initial loan on time. His marketing strategy combines community distribution with social media promotion.

The farm supplies produce to local markets in Mongar, regional schools, and the Gyalsung Academy. Sonam uses Facebook (via the Samsara Farming page) and TikTok to increase visibility and build consumer trust. “Social media really helped. I use Facebook and TikTok to reach more people and share what we do,” he said.

Looking ahead, Sonam plans to install a cooling system to keep cultivation temperatures below 26 degrees Celsius, the ideal range for Oyster mushrooms. “I want to install a cooling system to maintain ideal temperature and grow mushrooms year-round, even in summer,” he said. This would reduce climate-related risks and support continuous production.

Currently, four farmers in eastern Bhutan, including Sonam, are working to introduce mushroom varieties common in the west but not yet grown in the east. “We are planning to form a group to bring western mushroom varieties to the east. But we are unsure if we will get funding once CARLEP ends,” he added. Sonam envisions creating a regional mushroom growers’ cooperative to support this initiative, though funding uncertainty remains a challenge.

Reflecting on his experience, Sonam stresses the importance of careful site selection and thorough market research for aspiring mushroom farmers. He credits CARLEP not only for technical support and equipment but also for providing him a platform to train other young people interested in mushroom cultivation. “I give training to young people now. If they’re interested, I am always ready to share what I have learned,” he said.

Sonam sees agriculture as a sustainable and promising career. With the number of active farmers declining nationwide, he believes the rising demand for local food will continue to push market prices upward. “Farming,” he said, “holds the potential to become a path to prosperity, perhaps even to becoming a millionaire.”

Sonam Gyeltshen’s journey with Samsara Integrated Agriculture Farm shows how informed decision-making, technology use, and institutional support can help rural youth overcome challenges. From market analysis to IoT automation and crop diversification, Sonam has responded strategically to difficulties. His ability to combine traditional farming with modern methods has increased productivity and income while engaging the community through training and market linkages. As Bhutan works toward greater food self-sufficiency and youth employment, such grassroots efforts offer valuable lessons for policymakers and development programs.