𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐩 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬

…𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌, 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑

By Kezang Choden

Since 2016, a women’s group from Tama village under Trong Gewog in Zhemgang has steadily expanded its agricultural activities, focusing on the cultivation of organic turmeric, cardamom, and ginger. With the support of the Bhutan Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAOWE), the group- originally formed with 20 members- has made notable progress in organic farming and rural entrepreneurship.

In 2023, the group harvested and dried 1,000 kilograms of turmeric, marking a significant milestone in their farming journey. The members also cultivate cardamom and ginger, gradually diversifying their production. To further enhance output, the group leased 15 acres of land where they actively work to improve the quality and quantity of their crops.

The women have also adopted better marketing strategies with support from BAOWE, enabling them to reach customers beyond their village. Their commitment to organic produce, particularly turmeric, attracted the attention of traditional medicine practitioners. With facilitation by BAOWE, the group signed an agreement with a traditional hospital to supply dried turmeric for medicinal preparations. This partnership not only offers a reliable market but also affirms the value of their organic farming practices.

To support post-harvest processing, BAOWE provided the group with a turmeric grinding machine in 2023. This enabled the members to meet customer orders efficiently. Tshering Lhaden, the group’s chairperson, emphasized the importance of teamwork in their success.

“Our strong collaboration has helped us work more effectively and earn a good income. The income we generate annually is equally shared among members, so everyone benefits from our collective effort,” she said.
The additional income has had a direct impact on family welfare. Choki Wangmo, a member from Trong Gewog, said the initiative allowed her to support her six children without depending entirely on her husband.

“This work has changed my life. It has enabled me to contribute to household expenses and secure a better future for my children. When both husband and wife are engaged in income-generating work, the household becomes more stable. It builds shared responsibility and a stronger partnership,” she said, encouraging other women to seize similar opportunities for greater independence.

Currently, all agricultural activities are carried out manually. Recognizing the need to enhance capacity, BAOWE is preparing a series of targeted initiatives to provide technical training and modern farming knowledge. The organization also plans to organize exposure visits to other institutions and successful enterprises. These visits aim to introduce best practices and new ideas that the women can adopt.

The group members view these upcoming opportunities with hope and enthusiasm. Many see the training and exposure programs as a chance to become more skilled and independent entrepreneurs. Through such support, BAOWE aims to create a model for sustainable women’s empowerment that strengthens rural livelihoods and promotes community development.

The chairperson also shared that the group has been provided with a rest area where they can take breaks during work. In addition to improved working conditions, the women have received essential farming tools and participated in skills development programs.

Currently, they are cultivating ginger on one acre of land, an initiative started recently to diversify their produce. According to Tshering Lhaden, turmeric cultivation has been ongoing for six years and has consistently generated reliable income.

“We are now planning to expand turmeric cultivation. It has proven to be a sustainable livelihood option for many women here. With training, equipment, and better working conditions, we are confident that both quality and production will increase,” she said.

Group member Karma Choden shared her experience of being involved since the group’s inception. She expressed appreciation for the team spirit and cooperation among members.

“I enjoy working with my group. Whenever I cannot attend, my husband helps by taking my place. This way, we ensure the work continues. Compared to crops like maize and paddy, turmeric is less prone to damage from wild animals and is easier to maintain. It requires less effort, making it a practical crop for farmers like us,” she said.

As the women of Tama village continue to strengthen their farming enterprise, their story stands as an example of how organized efforts, coupled with institutional support, can lead to economic empowerment and community development.