Once a bustling hub, the Community Gene Bank of Buli in Zhemgang now has its door locked. The gene bank was established five years ago to preserve and store seeds of native crops, which are on the brink of extinction. However, the group of farmers responsible for running the facility is struggling to keep it afloat and many members have left due to its bleak future.
A farmers’ group called Buli Sanam–Nyamsung–Detshen was established in 2018 with 28 members. But today the storage has only four members.
“For three years, we hardly did any business. And after five years, 22 members had left the group. Only six of us remained, working on vegetable production and supplying to the nearby schools every month. Two more left recently, leaving just four of us trying to keep it going,” said Sonam Yangki, a member of Buli Sanam–Nyamsung–Detshen.
“We do not have enough money right now to buy supplies. We have been surviving by doing other businesses and saving some money. However, when members leave, we have to split the accumulated amount. So, the four of us stayed, determined not to waste our resources,” said Karma Dechen, chairperson of Buli Sanam–Nyamsung–Detshen.
As the unit is now faced with challenges, hope now rests on a new venture. The four remaining members are now planning to start a bakery business.
“Realising we can’t sit idle or waste our resources after investing so much in the gene bank, we proposed to the gewog administration that we undergo bakery training. We plan to start a bakery shop here,” added Sonam Yangki.
During the initial establishment, the farmers’ group collected about 38 different seeds from various villages in Nangkor Gewog and stored them in the bank.
Funded by the UNDP, the project, the first of its kind in Zhemgang was constructed at about Nu 3 M.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Sonam Pem
