This year, people of Nabchhed chiwog in Punakha are expecting an increase in the production of cash crops with the ongoing Land Management Project in the village. With most of their lands located on sloppy landscapes, growing varieties of crops have always been a challenge for them. The project carried out by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is expected to benefit over 30 households.
An excavator has been in the village for more than two and a half months transforming fields into beautiful terraces for the better practice of farming.
Delighted with the change, farmers are further motivated and encouraged to practice agriculture on large scale.
“Since our places are located in the middle of the cliff, soils and manures are washed away by the rainwater. This affects our agricultural products. The land is now being transformed into terraces and this will help us for a better yield this time,” said Kencho Wangdi, the Tshogpa of the Nabchhed village.
“Practicing terrace farming will help us distribute an equal amount of manure to various crops. Even if you put a basket of manure, it will remain in the field itself as the soil will not erode away,” said Namgay, a farmer.
“It has further encouraged us to work harder and we hope to get a good return with this land management works in future. It will benefit us. Earlier, we were not that interested in agricultural works since our fields were located on sloppy areas making agricultural works difficult,” said Tshering Pem, another farmer.
Around 20 acres of land have been successfully transformed so far.
While some lands are still in the process of transformation, some farmers have even started growing crops in their new fields.
According to the villagers, the climatic condition favours the chiwog to grow almost all kinds of crops and vegetables.
It is located some five kilometres away from the Gewog Center Office.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
