𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠

…𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔, 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑳𝒉𝒖𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔𝒆

By Sonam Choden

Thinley Jamtsho, a 52-year-old poultry farmer from Phagidung, currently lives in Membi, Lhuentse, where he operates a poultry farm with his wife. The farm has grown steadily over time, despite several early setbacks. At present, he keeps around 300 birds, of which 70 to 80 are active egg-laying hens. In addition to selling eggs, he supplies pullets to other farmers in the area. These pullets were initially sourced from Lingmithang. Any pullets that remain unsold are kept on his farm for hatching, which reduces reliance on external sources and helps sustain his operations.

Thinley began poultry farming in 2022 with support from the Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme (CARLEP). Through the programme, he received materials and inputs worth about Nu. 1 million. However, his initial venture into farming was unsuccessful. Recalling the experience, he said, “When I first started, I brought in around 2,500 birds, but the production was very low. I think it was because I was new to this and also the breed was different from the one I raise now. The loss I faced was around Nu. 7 lakhs.” The failure was attributed to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lack of practical experience, and the use of a breed unsuitable for his farming environment and management methods.

Following this setback, Thinley paused his operations for about nine months. During that time, he reassessed his approach and later resumed with a different breed, Hy-Line Brown. The new breed proved to be more productive under his care. Although he has not received formal training in poultry farming, Thinley adopted a self-learning approach. “I have never attended any formal training, but I learned from those who are already in this business. I also watch YouTube videos and apply about 50 to 60 percent of what I learn from there,” he said. This self-directed method helped him overcome many of the earlier challenges.

Thinley’s farm benefits from its location near a road, which makes access to markets relatively easy. He said, “Being near the road really helps. Buyers come and take from me directly, and I sell the rest to shops in bulk.” On average, his farm earns around Nu. 36,700 per month. This income supports his household and allows reinvestment into the farm for improvements and small expansions.

Despite his progress, several challenges remain. One of the main concerns is the inconsistent availability of poultry feed. Local suppliers are not always dependable, and he often has to travel to Mongar to purchase feed, which increases transportation costs and time. Labor shortage is another ongoing issue. “Even if I get helpers, they don’t work properly despite paying them. So most of the work, my wife and I handle it,” he explained. This situation puts pressure on the couple, especially as the farm grows.

In addition to commercial poultry, Thinley also raises native birds, which he manages separately. He started with eight native birds bought from Menji and gradually increased the flock to about 150 birds by the previous year. He observed that demand for native birds increases during the winter, when they are harder to find. Unlike the commercial breeds, the native birds are hatched naturally using mother hens, as Thinley does not yet own an incubator. He expressed interest in purchasing one in the future but noted that cost is a limiting factor. “The cost is high, but I am ready to invest in the future if possible,” he said. Managing native birds also requires adjustments, such as providing open spaces for sunbathing. While free-ranging would be beneficial, it complicates egg collection. “Free range is not really possible if I have too many birds, because I can’t find the eggs they lay in hidden places,” he said.

His farming activities also include vegetable cultivation, particularly early chili varieties, which suit the local climate and have good market value. He raises Jersey cows as well, producing milk for sale. Looking ahead, Thinley plans to start a heifer breeding farm to diversify his income and contribute to local dairy production. His willingness to explore multiple areas of farming reflects an entrepreneurial mindset and a focus on long-term sustainability.
Beyond his own work, Thinley shares his knowledge with others in the community. He takes pride in advising individuals interested in poultry farming, encouraging them to consider it as a livelihood option. In doing so, he helps strengthen the agricultural community in his area.

Despite the setbacks he faced, including financial losses, feed shortages, and labor difficulties, Thinley remains committed to his farm. He said, “I am never going to stop my farm. I don’t want the support given by CARLEP to go to waste.”
His experience represents the journey of many smallholder farmers in the country, working to shift from subsistence to semi-commercial farming. With continued access to training, inputs, and affordable technologies such as incubators and reliable feed systems, farmers like Thinley Jamtsho can further improve productivity and contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector.

This story is supported by the commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme (CARLEP) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL), funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).