From this winter, villagers of Woongborang chiwog in Pema Gatshel are expected to transport their farm produce more conveniently. This is because the chiwog will be connected with a farm road by October this year. For now, the farmers have to carry the produce on their back or on horseback.
The farmland in Woongborang chiwog in Dungmaed Gewog under Pema Gatshel is fertile and suitable for fruits and vegetable cultivation. However, without a farm road, marketing the farm produce has been a challenge. Moreover, due to the transportation problem, farmers did not venture into large scale commercial farming.
“We could not cultivate vegetables on a large scale. But now with the road, everything will be transported by the vehicles. So, we don’t need to use the horses anymore,” said Tshering Gyeltshen, a villager.
“With the starting of the farm road construction, we can experience the difference,” said the chiwog Tshogpa, Tashi Dorji.
“I am the village health worker. It takes three hours to reach the nearest road point when we have to walk,” said Sangay Dorji from Woongborang Chiwog.
The construction of the 11-kilometre road started mid of last year. For now, the first cutting of the road has reached Woongborang village which is about 8-kilometre from the nearest road point.
Besides vegetable cultivation, cardamom and oranges are the main cash crops.
“We grow oranges, cabbage, sag and other vegetables. And due to the pandemic, last year, we could not market the products. Once the farm road is constructed, we are hoping to cultivate vegetables on large scale,” added Tshering Gyeltshen.
Dungmaed Gup, Ugyen Tshering said the Gewog will focus on the improvement of livestock and agriculture once the chiwog is connected with the road.
“In the 2021-2022 financial year, we are thinking of supporting the procurement of the machinery for the agriculture and livestock development if they are interested,” added the Gup.
“We have been depending on agriculture till now. So we are thinking of procuring some machinery like power tiller,” said the Tshogpa, Tashi Dorji.
Nu 23 M is allocated for the farm road construction.
Once the chiwog is connected with the road, the farmers are hopeful in venturing into large scale commercial farming which will promote self-sufficiency in the country.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
