Dagana’s Priority Sector Lending (PSL) Committee has received only two proposals since it was started in January. Officials claim this low turnout is because people are less aware of the program. The dzongkhag is now focusing on advocating locals on the scheme.
The Dzongkhag Agriculture office which looks after the PSL did not approve the two proposals as further research was required. One of the applicants proposed for starting up a Mushroom farm of button and Enoke mushrooms. Since these mushrooms have never been grown in the country, the proposal was kept on halt.
The other applicant who wanted to start up a vegetable marketing agent was also redirected. Because the applicant resides in Thimphu, he has been told to process through the Thimphu dzongkhag PSL committee. As for the low applicants, officials feel locals are less aware of the scheme.
“The Dzongkhag priority Sector lending committee wrote to every geog and its officials asking them to advocate the people about the scheme. Further we asked them to make them aware about the scopes and guidelines when preparing the proposal,” said Passang Tshering, the Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer.
Officials say Dagana has potential for growing pulses, Mustard, Dairy farming, and mass vegetable farming. The PSL scheme gives loans of upto Nu one million for cottage industries and upto 10m for small industries. The loans at lower interest rates compared to that of banks and do not require any collateral.
