Following the various issues and criticism related to farm shops, the National Assembly today approved the proposition to form a uniform system of farm shops in the country.
The Member of Parliament (MP) from the Bardo-Trong constituency brought forward the petition related to farm shops under the Food Corporation of Bhutan in the National Assembly, today.
As per the petition from the Zhemgang Dzongkhag Tshogdu, the system of farm shops in the country is not uniform and differs from gewog to gewog.
“The farm shops under the food corporation of Bhutan have generally benefited the people in Zhemgang. However, as opposed to the agreement, the farm shop has not been proving local people with agricultural aids like farm machinery and seeds, and has also not followed the Buy-Back policy. Moreover, the system differs from gewog to gewog. The Tshogdu, therefore, proposes for a uniform system of farm shops across the nation,” informed Gyambo Tshering, the Bardo-Trong MP.
Responding to the petition, the Agriculture and Forests Minister accepted that of the 173 farm shops in the country today, only 9 farm shops in remote places has benefitted the local community.
“As per our review of the farm shops in the country, out of the 173 farm shops in the country, only 9 farm shops in remote places have benefitted the community and have support from the public. However, 164 farm shops have failed to benefit the local community. Of which, the Food Corporation of Bhutan has incurred a loss of nearly Nu 40 M so far. Moreover, the farm shops have also affected the already available shops in various gewogs,” said Yeshey Penjor, the Agriculture and Forests Minister.
Deliberating on it, many of the members present supported the petition and even made suggestions to retain few farm shops in remote places.
“There are few places where there is not even a small shop and even does not has a farm shop. It will be very helpful and 
benefit the local people if we can keep some farm shops in such places,” said Pema Gyamtsho (PhD), the Opposition Leader.
“If the farm shops can provide agricultural aids, varieties of seeds and spare parts for power tillers and manure as well, these will help people a lot. Because today, just to buy a small part of power tiller, people have to travel to Thimphu, Paro and Wangdue Phodrang. Moreover, it will further help rural people, if there is a person in the farm shop who can even fix problems related to the farm machinery,” added Gyem Dorji, the Draagteng- Langthil MP.
The members present also suggested coming up with cold storage warehouse facilities to keep farmer’s produce fresh and make them last longer.
The end of the deliberation saw all the members of the House supporting the proposition. Following which the house directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests to make the necessary changes in the programme and present a report on it in the next session of the parliament.
Passang Dorji
