Residents of Tshetenang village under Kabisa Gewog in Punakha depend on agriculture for their livelihoods and income generation. But poor farm road connectivity is hindering the villagers to transport their commercial crops to the nearest markets on time.
As the condition of the road is worsening further, villagers are seeking the Gewog administration’s help at the earliest. Otherwise, with monsoon just around the corner, they fear the road will become completely inaccessible.
Kinley Wangyel, 36, frequents the farm road for shopping essentials and delivering crops to the market. He makes at least four trips in a week.
But he describes the journey as an utter nightmare given that the road is in bad shape with deep water clogged potholes and uneven surfaces. He also needs a helper to guide him cross the narrow wooden plank placed over a small stream.
“We need one person to guide the driver to pass through this plank over the stream. If not, my vehicle will veer off it. Very soon, summer will arrive and the stream will swell, making travelling difficult. Once the stream subsides, we again place new planks over it,” says Kinley Wangyel.
Due to the terrible road condition, vehicles encounter occasional mechanical breakdowns, delaying farmers to ferry their farm produce to the market.
“We produce the best quality cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli this time. We also produce several wild products such as mushrooms and ferns. But they get spoilt on the way due to the poor road condition and ultimately, we don’t fetch a good price,” shares another farmer of Tshetenang Village, Zeko.
Others recollected accidents along the narrow and steep road.
“Our vehicles face breakdowns, especially during the rainy season. Around four vehicles met with an accident along this road,” says Passang.
The more than seven-kilometre-long farm road was constructed in 2009. Some minor repair works were carried out in the past, which weren’t much of a help.
“We are hoping for the road to improve this time because recently elected local government members have pledged to prioritise Tshetenang Farm Road during their campaign time. We also heard that a separate budget has been allocated for the work,” adds Kinley Wangyel.
The Gewog administration has proposed the farm road renovation to the Punakha Dzongkhag Administration.
“The Granular sub-base works phase-II has come and we are prioritising this phase for Tshetenang farm road. We have already submitted the proposal to the dzongkhag administration. So, we are expecting to receive the approval soon,” updates Phub Gyeltshen, the Mangmi of Kabisa Gewog.
The dzongkhag administration says they have submitted the budget proposal to the central government, and expect to release the budget within a week or so.
Once that is done, the hopes of 15 households in Tshetenang Village will turn into a reality. The farm road will undergo a facelift by laying a granular sub-base or GSB that has crushed stone particles mixed with sand.
The GSB ensures good quality roads that are not blacktopped.
As per the government’s norm, to use GSB, more than Nu 1.6 M is allocated per kilometre of farm roads across the country.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Pema Lhaden
