Much to the delight of the residents of Duenmang-Kamjong chiwog in Nangkor Gewog in Zhemgang, their farm road is finally taking shape. The construction of the farm road which began almost a decade ago missed several deadlines. Duenmang is the last among 40 chiwogs in Zhemgang to have farm road connectivity.
The day begins as early as 4 AM for the residents of Duenmang and Kamjong when they travel to Gomphu to buy essentials. They still depend on horses to transport goods and walk for hours along steep and rugged terrain to reach the nearest road point. Ten hours on the foot is an arduous journey up and downhill for the residents.
With the construction of the farm road getting unusually prolonged, the residents said they are now not certain if they will ever get the motorable road.
“Of the five chiwogs in Nangkor Gewog, Duenmang- Kamjong is the only one left out without a farm road. People are suffering. It is very difficult to climb cliffs. We have to go to Gomphu anyhow to buy essentials including rice and the journey is very tiring,” said Singay, from Kamjong.
Although the chiwog has the potential to produce a variety of agricultural goods including grains, vegetables and fruits, the residents are challenged with marketing issues without a road network.
“We grow maize and millet. Likewise, we also grow vegetables and fruits. But without road connectivity, we cannot sell them. Besides, gewog provided us seeds, piglets and chickens as well. But we cannot make the best of any of these without a market due to a lack of farm road,” added Dorji Wangchuk, the Duenmang-Kamjong Tshogpa.
Nangkor Gewog authority said the construction of Duenmang farm road was delayed mainly because of a court case between the District Administration and the contractor over the revision of rates for rock cutting and blasting.
However, the Gewog Administration took over the construction works after the court passed the judgment in March this year. This has revived the hopes of the residents.
“We were worried about the completion of our farm road. Now that the gewog is taking over the construction, we are hopeful that our village will soon have a road network. That would help us sell our agricultural produce on time,” said Tsewang, from Duenmang.
“Of the five chiwogs, Duenmang-Kamjong is the least developed and it has no farm road, no basic infrastructure at the moment. Now, we are trying to construct the farm road first and then provide other infrastructure they need. We are optimistic that we will be able to construct the farm road within a year,” said Singye Wangchuk, the Nangkor Gup.
About Nu 5 M has been allocated for the construction of the 19-kilometre farm road. As of today, only eight-kilometre is complete.
Once complete, about 60 households of Duenmang and Kamjong villages won’t have to depend on horses or walk for hours to buy essentials.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Phub Gyem
