𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐂 𝐖𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬

…𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒏𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒊𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚

By Kezang Choden

The Agriculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC) at Wengkhar, located in Mongar Dzongkhag, is advancing agricultural technologies to tackle challenges faced by farmers in the eastern region of Bhutan. Researchers at the centre are focusing on practical solutions such as walnut hot callusing technology and a citrus netting prototype, alongside several other initiatives. These projects address real problems encountered by farmers, aiming to improve both productivity and sustainability.

One of the centre’s key innovations is the walnut hot callusing technology. This method seeks to improve the success rate of walnut grafting, which is crucial for increasing nut production. The process involves maintaining a controlled temperature by circulating hot water through a pipeline system, creating an optimal environment for graft growth. Pema Yangdon, Senior Horticulture Officer at ARDC, explained that this technology has been under development for several years and is now producing promising results.

“We are giving importance to walnut hot callusing technology. Through this method, we can maintain the required temperature by allowing hot water to run through a pipeline system, which ensures a better success rate,” she said.
The success rate of walnut grafting using this hot callusing method has reached 76 percent, a significant improvement compared to the 20 to 30 percent success typically achieved through traditional outdoor grafting. Currently, Bhutan depends heavily on imported walnut saplings to meet domestic demand. With this technology, the reliance on imports is expected to decrease, supporting the government’s million-fruit-tree plantation project aimed at increasing fruit cultivation and promoting self-sufficiency.

The ARDC team believes that hot callusing technology will play a vital role in enhancing both the quality and quantity of walnut production in the country.
Another important research initiative involves testing citrus netting to protect crops from fruit fly infestation, a major issue affecting citrus growers. Fruit flies damage the fruit while still on the tree, causing premature fruit drop and significant economic losses. A researcher involved in the project noted that the protective nets act as a physical barrier, preventing pests from reaching the fruits.

Early results from trials indicate promising outcomes, though researchers continue to monitor the nets’ effectiveness throughout different stages of fruit development. Farmers have also reported similar problems with fruit flies on their land. The research team hopes the citrus netting solution can be refined and widely adopted to reduce crop loss and improve fruit quality.

In addition to these projects, ARDC researchers are exploring inter-cropping techniques, particularly the practice of growing additional crops alongside maize. Inter-cropping involves planting two or more crops close together to improve land use and soil health while increasing food security. The wide row spacing and long growing season of maize fields provide opportunities to cultivate legumes, vegetables, or short-duration cereals between the rows. Pema Yangdon shared the benefits of this approach: “The initiative is aimed at helping smallholder farmers diversify their crop production and reduce their dependency on a single crop. Inter-cropping also contributes to weed and pest control, reduces the risk of crop failure, and improves income opportunities by allowing multiple harvests from the same field.”

Early trials have shown encouraging results, including improved yields and reduced input costs. Officials hope that once the research is complete and shared with farmers, inter-cropping will support more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices, especially where landholdings are small and climate conditions unpredictable.

The ARDC team emphasizes the importance of staying current with agricultural research to foster meaningful and lasting improvements in farming. They stress that continuous learning, adaptation, and collaboration among farmers, extension workers, policymakers, and researchers are essential. This partnership ensures innovations are effectively transferred from research to practice. The centre remains committed to developing solutions that are locally adapted, evidence based, and aimed at strengthening food security and rural livelihoods across the eastern region.