Agriculture is vital to Bhutan’s economy, employing 43.5% of the workforce. However, smallholder farmers face challenges such as rural-urban migration, an aging population, and climate change, threatening food security. To address these issues, Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan prioritizes strengthening smallholder farmers’ resilience and boosting agriculture productivity.
To support this, the Bhutan Foundation in collaboration with the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative, trained 10 lead farmers (four women and six men) from five gewogs in Samdrup Jongkhar in 2024. These farmers received training in climate-smart agriculture, sustainable practices, and innovative farming techniques, equipping them to guide their communities in adapting to environmental challenges.
Through a farmer-to-farmer learning model, the trained Lead Farmers, in collaboration with the Gewog agriculture extension officer, have trained over 130 farmers in their community. The local farmers were trained in soil health management, water conservation, integrated pest management, seed saving, grafting, and organic farming. Each Lead Farmer trained 13–15 farmers in two-day sessions, effectively creating a Farmer-to-Farmer Extension System. Additionally, participants received water-saving technologies like sprinklers.
Two women Lead Farmers from Gomdar Gewog have emerged as key figures in promoting sustainable agriculture, successfully training 30 farmers. One leader, Mrs. Lhamo, has become an inspiration in her community. Despite lacking formal education, she has taken the initiative to teach others about farmyard manure production, seed saving, and sustainable farming techniques.
“This is my first time learning from a fellow farmer, and I could really connect and understand easily,” said Mrs Norbu Lhamo, a participant of the Farmer-to-Farmer Extension Program.
“I am happy to serve as a Lead Farmer as long as it benefits the community. My training has already brought positive changes in sustainable practices,” Lhamo shared.
This initiative aims to enhance resilience, improve productivity, and promote sustainable agriculture in Bhutan by empowering local farmers with knowledge and agricultural inputs.
