The country aims to boost food self-sufficiency by focusing on rice and vegetable production by 2029. However, fallow lands, limited irrigation, and climate change pose significant challenges in achieving this goal. To address these, the Tarayana Foundation has developed an Agroecological Roadmap for Sustainable Food Systems to transform the country’s agricultural landscape. Yesterday, stakeholders from various agencies gathered in the capital for a national consultation on the plan. Her Majesty Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, president of the Tarayana Foundation, graced the event.
The roadmap highlights the lack of collaboration among different agencies and limited market access. It also emphasises environmental sustainability and the impacts of climate change on agriculture as key issues in the country.
Agroecology is expected to solve these issues.
Agroecology is a way of farming that works with nature instead of against it. It focuses on growing food in a way that keeps soil healthy, protects biodiversity, and reduces harm to the environment.
Before the national consultation, several local and regional consultations were held.
“The purpose of developing this agroecological road map is to bring all the agencies concerned together, identify the issues relevant to food and nutrition, sustainable and traditional practices of agriculture farming,” said Sangay Dorji (PhD), Technical Director at Tarayana Foundation.
He added that through the national consultation, relevant stakeholders were able to come together to contribute and develop the road map.
The roadmap consists of six major recommendations, which include strengthening food system governance by aligning policies across agriculture, trade, health, and environment sectors. It was noted that most sectors work independently.
It also recommends revitalising fallow land and improving irrigation efficiency. The roadmap recommends the use of technologies such as drip and sprinkler irrigation along with rain-harvesting systems.
To promote sustainable diets and nutrition, the roadmap suggests strengthening links between farmers and government institutions. It also highlights the need to revise procurement policies to prioritise local and organic food production.
Furthermore, the roadmap proposes adopting climate-resilient agriculture by diversifying crop and livestock production with climate-resilient varieties and breeds and the development of more community seed banks.
Strengthening market access and value chains with sustainable packaging is also recommended, highlighting the need to reduce waste through composting food, among others.
Moreover, the roadmap recommends leveraging digital technologies, such as developing mobile applications for real-time weather updates, pest and disease surveillance, and market information.
The Tarayana Foundation expects to finalise the roadmap by the end of next month.
“Tarayana Foundation is just facilitating this programme to bring the relevant stakeholders together. But the lead implementation will be with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock supported by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Skills Development and other relevant agencies,” added Sangay Dorji (PhD), Technical Director at Tarayana Foundation.
The roadmap, aligned with the 13th Five-Year Plan, is part of the regional project titled “Enhancing Knowledge and Capacities of Local Stakeholders to Strengthen Policy Environments Enabling Agroecology in the Himalayas”. It is implemented collaboratively by Bhutan, Nepal, and India and supported by the World Future Council and IFOAM-Organics International.
Devika Pradhan
Edited by Phub Gyem
