Neglected for almost a decade, Kodongma farmland in Dewathang Gewog’s Domphu Village, is set for a revival. A newly constructed road is encouraging residents in the village to bring fallow fields back under cultivation.
Rinchen Wangdi from Domphu has been cultivating ginger, a cash crop, on land near the road owned by others, while his farmland at Kodongma remained fallow for almost ten years.
With the recent construction of over two kilometre farm road to the Kodongma farmland, he now plans to cultivate ginger and expand his production.
“It will be profitable to work on our own land. Everyone here is happy. Without spending anything, the government has built a farm road, and seven of us have already cleared the bushes to start cultivation,” said Rinchen Wangdi, Resident, Dewathang, Samdrup Jongkhar.
According to the Domphu-Dungkarchhoeling Tshogpa, more than 40 acres of land belonging to 22 households are located in the area.
So far, about two acres of farmland have been cleared to begin cultivation. Farmers say the road will significantly reduce the transportation challenges.
“Now that the farm road is constructed, we are planning to cultivate our land. Earlier, without a road, it was difficult to carry the harvests, so we cultivated on other’s land near the road. By farming, we can grow chilli and other vegetables and don’t have to buy them,” said Chenzom, Resident, Dewathang, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“We are grateful for the farm road. Now, I am planning to cultivate ginger, maize, and other crops. With the road, everything becomes convenient, and we can hire vehicles to transport our produce,” said Sonam Peldon, Resident, Dewathang, Samdrup Jongkhar.
The Dewathang Gewog administration spent over Nu 1.9 M to construct the farm road to Kodongma farmland.
The administration also plans to provide irrigation water, which is expected to further encourage farmers to bring more fallow land under cultivation.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Sonam Pem
