The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Eminent member Phuntsho Rapten presented the government’s responses to the resolution of the 33rd session of the National Council’s Review Report on the issues of Satong (vacant land) and Gungtong (abandoned houses).
The first resolution pointed out the imbalanced socio-economic development evident in disparities in poverty and migration patterns across the country.
In response, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) confirmed that regional balance is a priority in the 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP). The plan allocates funds to dzongkhags, gewogs, and thromdes based on criteria such as population, poverty levels, and transportation. Furthermore, 10% of annual grants are earmarked for developing Dzongkhag Thromdes to curb urban migration and reduce congestion in major cities. The government is also collaborating with Local Governments to improve services, like health, education, and telecommunication, as well as agricultural infrastructure.
The second resolution raised concerns about the 66,120 acres of arable land lying fallow.
The National Land Commission Secretariat (NLCS) acknowledged the need to address fallow land reversion, but clarified that it had not yet undertaken specific activities on this matter. However, the NLCS expressed willingness to collaborate with other agencies to support such efforts.
The third resolution pointed to the declining rice self-sufficiency in country, which dropped from 40.8% in 2018 to 25.2% in 2022.
In response, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) stated that the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy of Bhutan 2023, rather than a separate rice policy, provides strategic interventions to enhance rice production. These include promoting farm mechanization, implementing crop insurance, and addressing wildlife conflicts through chain-link fencing and irrigation renovation.
The fourth resolution emphasized the need to convert fallow wetlands into productive use, particularly for crops other than rice, especially in areas with unsuitable irrigation or steep slopes.
NLCS responded that a High-Level Steering Committee, established under Royal Command, is actively discussing flexible land-use strategies. The committee is addressing challenges related to wetland conversion and exploring options for productive use.
The fifth resolution recommended including private registered land located on steep slopes for land exchanges under existing rules. NLCS is said to be revising land exchange rules to incorporate such provisions.
The sixth resolution highlighted the need to mitigate human-wildlife conflict (HWC) and enhance self-sufficiency in cereals and vegetables.
MoAL responded that efforts in the 13th FYP prioritize mitigating HWC, with plans for 80 chain-link fences across 20 districts. The ministry is also working on developing agrifood hubs and promoting innovative agricultural technologies.
The seventh resolution called for the reinstatement of a crop and livestock insurance scheme. MoAL responded that a new proposal for crop and livestock insurance is being developed.
The eighth resolution raised concerns about labour shortages and limited access to farm machinery. MoAL acknowledged these challenges and is proposing to import seasonal foreign labour and increase support for farm mechanization to improve productivity.
The ninth resolution was on the credit share to the agriculture sector declining from 6% in FY 2017/18 to just 2.3% in FY 2022/23. Additionally, interest rates on agricultural loans remain high.
The tenth resolution highlighted the lack of infrastructure, which affects the ability of farmers to sell their products at fair prices.
The eleventh resolution called for the creation of innovative schemes to attract youth back to rural areas.
Resolutions 9, 10, and 11 were not presented during the 34th session of the National Council, as the responses were only received that morning.
The 12th resolution addressed the increasing challenges of gungtong and satong in some borderland gewogs.
It was noted that the government was unable to address the question directly, as their focus was more on services aimed at enhancing livelihoods.
