The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Battling rupee crunch to complete planned activities
The Bongo gewog in Chukha dzongkhag is rushing to complete its development activities of the 10th Plan. It has completed about 80% of its works. Bongo gup said of nine farm roads, seven have been constructed and three are underway. The 15km-Junglay to Thasuma farm road is half complete. And the 6km-Chungkha to Tokokha road’s construction started a couple of weeks ago. About 50% to 60% of works on the supply of drinking water in Chungkha and Toktokha villages is complete. The gewog officilas said the works would have been completed if not for the hike in prices of construction materials because of the ongoing rupee shortage problem. The rupee crunch has delayed the supply of construction materials, they said. Bongo gewog has about 545 households. It is one of the largest in Chhukha dzongkhag. (Tashi Deki)
Less tourist arrival on the Nabji-Korphu trail
The Nabji-Korphu trail is a community based eco- tourism trail that passes through six different villages surrounding the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park in central Bhutan. The trail provides socio-economic benefits for the villagers, as tourists can rent campsites, hire village guides, dishwashers, porters and ponies, etc. for a reasonable fee. Villagers contribute 15% of their earnings into the village committee fund, which is used during emergencies or for the development needs in their communities. Korphu gewog in Trongsa is one of the beneficiaries of such an eco- tourism venture. According to Gup Tsheltrim Dorji of Korphu, about 80 to 90 tourists came annually to Korphu for bird watching the endangered bird species, rufous-necked hornbills in the area. The bridge over Mangdechhu that was washed away last year, which is still under construction, has lowered the number of tourists visiting the place. Villagers are eager for the bridge to be completed, as the eco-tourism activities provide an alternative source of livelihood for the villagers who are mainly farmers. (Sonam Choki)
Get farming in Dechhenling Gewog!
Pemagatshel: Dechhenling gewog in Nganglam dungkhag is geared up for an increase in agriculture and livestock activity. An initiative is on a roll in the gewog that was started by a group of farmers to increase the farming output, and the income of the farmers through better agriculture and farming methods. Currently, more than 400 livestock have been distributed to the chhiwogs in Dechhenling gewog. According to the Gup of Dechhenling gewog, Sonam Rinchen, chhiwogs like, Shinjongling, Nandaling, Dungchelu and Ngangre are looking after the poultry farms. Other chhiwogs like, Reyzemu, Agurtshong are looking after the piggery, fishery and other livestock. “People are now earning around Nu 85, 000 in a year by just selling pork,” said Gup Sonam Rinchen. Farmers are also making sure that poultry and livestock imported from Maynaguri are placed in quarantine to check for foreign animal pests and diseases. Future plans include planting cash crops like, passion fruit, sugarcane, mangoes and oranges in Telung village under the gewog. The farmers hope such an initiative will increase the quality of farm production, and profits. Also, a survey of the public initiative and feasibility was conducted in April with support from the government. (Thinley Wangmo)
