Bhutan kicks off the implementation of the much-awaited Green Climate Fund financed projects. The USD 25.3 M projects supporting climate resilience and transformational in the agriculture sector in Bhutan is one of the biggest climate adaption projects in the country. It is a six-year project.
The workshop on Green Climate Fund project on smart agriculture marks the formal launch of the first-ever climate change adaption project.
“The key purpose of having this workshop is to sensitize Dzongads and central agencies with regard to projects that are there within their areas. So hereafter once the workshop is done, the Dzongdas and central agency officials will have to prepare themselves in terms of rolling out the project and completing the project on time,” said Wangchuk Namgay, the Chief of the Development Corporation Division of the Gross National Happiness Commission.
The project priorities are in enhancing agriculture productivity through the renovation of irrigation channels and even climate proofing of farm road and feeder roads.
“This is one of the largest climate change project fund. Of course in the past, we have been receiving financing from the global environment facility and other green financing mechanisms. But the financing size wasn’t as huge as today’s project. Definitely this financing will go a long way in terms of narrowing the deficit of 12th five-year plan,” he added.
The project will benefit more than 100,000 people in eight project districts of Dagana, Punakha, Trongsa, Tsirang, Sarpang, Samtse, Wangdue Phodrang and Zhemgang. The large chunk of financing will go to renovation and construction of irrigation channel.
“Out of the eight projects, the most important project is the irrigation water channel facilities for Phangyuel Gewog because this gewog has been suffering from scarcity of irrigation water for the last 3 to 4 years and they have kept about over 1000 acres of paddy field barren,” said Sonam Jamtsho, the Wangdue Phodrang Dzongda.
The projects were selected by the government given their vulnerability to climate change.
Choni Dema
