Using plastic posts for electric fencing has helped farmers in many ways. Farmers do not have to cut trees after every few years and it saves time as well as money. Plastic posts were used to fence seven acres of land in Dagana a few years ago on a trial basis.
Around 60 wooden posts are required to fence an acre of land. On average, there is an annual demand of at least 10,000 wooden posts for fencing in every chiwog. But the wooden posts last for a minimum of two years.
“I am using around 700 posts to cover seven acres of land. But the posts last only for two to three years which is expensive as I have to replace it within a few years,” said Thinley Wangchuk, a farmer in Drukjeygang Gewog.
But Tshering Tashi from Menchuna has a different story to share. His three acres of land was fenced using plastic posts with support from the World Bank. The Greener way made these posts.
“The plastic posts are very convenient. It needs no repairing or replacement. The wild animals also can’t break it as these are plastic posts.”
Though expensive, the district agriculture sector plans to support the use of plastic posts.
“Because it cannot be broken unlike the wooden posts, we are planning to provide these in places where there is more wild life conflicts,” said Kinley Namgay, assistant district agriculture officer.
Today, the country has more than 6,000-kilometre electric fencing for more than 30,000 households.
Karma Wangdi, Dagana
