Farmers of Dakphel village in Zhemgang are trying out a new method for orchard farming by digging a trench around the orange trees. The method is to help in preventing soil erosion and maintaining soil nutrients and fertility in hilly areas.
Farmers dig a trench of half a feet in depth at a distance of more than two feet from the orange trees. Then they fill the trench with suphala- a chemical fertilizer, add some organic manure and cover the trench with bushes to let it decompose.
This method of growing oranges is best suited in hilly areas.
“This first time we are trying the new method, we hope our orange trees grow well and prevent citrus greening,” Sonam Jamtsho, a farmer, said.
“If it is successful, we are looking forward to helping other orchards to do the same thing and share such ideas, ” Phola, another farmer, said.
The officials from the Rural Development Training Centre (RDTC) in Zhemgang trained about 30 farmers on the new method of farming recently.
The method is also to help improve soil structure.
