The Hon’ble Secretary, Dasho Thinley Namgyel made a brief visit to commercial farms at Phaitang and Wangray in Trongsa on October 29. The farms were established in 2020 with financial support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests.
The Phaitang farm was established in April 2020 on an area of 50 acres and has 9 working staff. There are 54 (5m x 10m) greenhouses currently growing tomatoes. It has already marketed more than 1000 kgs of tomatoes to schools and local vendors in Trongsa. Other vegetables include beans which have started fruiting while cauliflower and broccoli are in the transplanting stage. The farm aims to produce winter vegetables.
Wangray Farm covers an area of 45 acres of land and 15 youths including a guide are working at the farm. It has 116 greenhouses (5m x 10m) growing tomatoes and cauliflower. Three mandatory crops including Indian chilli, tomatoes and onion are in good progress and will hit the market during December-February.
During the visit, Dasho interacted with youths and asked them to see the opportunities in managing a farm. The modern technologies such as mechanisation and automated irrigation are some of the important measures to be explored by farm to make a farming business attractive for youths and achieve self-sufficiency in the country. Both farms are managed by Farm Machinery Corporation Limited.
Dasho was on a familiarisation tour to Trongsa, Zhemgang, Pemagatshel, Trashigang, Mongar and Bumthang. He visited various RNR offices and met with Dasho Dzongdags, regional heads, staff and farmers. He was accompanied by the Program Director of the National Biodiversity Centre, Bhutan along with representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Royal Project Coordination Office and Policy and Planning Division.
source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan
