Every autumn, the highlanders of Lunana in Gasa migrate to Punakha with their horses and mules to avoid the harsh cold winter. They spend the winter months in the warm valley where they also let loose their animals to graze freely. But due to the lack of designated pasturelands, the animals enter the paddy fields, causing problems to the farmers.
As late October approaches, the highlanders from Lunana head down south to Punakha. They bring along with them their horses and mules. If left back home, they say the animals would die either from the freezing cold or due to hunger.
Most of the highlanders settle in Guma Gewog of Punakha. Each person has about ten horses which totals to a few 100 animals.
Although they escape the cold by coming here, they are challenged with finding food for their animals.
Choki Dendup from Lunana says it is difficult finding grass for the animals. “Our animals end up in paddy fields without our knowledge, no matter how vigilant we are” he said. “Locals here say that we leave our village and come down to cause problems for them. We have to pay compensation when our animals destroy their crops.”
Another Lunana Resident, Karma, says they have to keep watch over their animals all the time. “Despite our alertness, our animals enter the fields and destroy the crops. So, we have to be with our horses from morning till evening.”
“We have to look after our horses every day. We don’t want to come here and create problems, but we have no other choice,” said Phutoo.
The residents of Punakha say they have been facing the same problem every year.
Namgay Tshering said they used to cultivate winter crops and used to have a good harvest. “But now we are busy guarding our crops against the horses.”
Kinley Tenzin said the horses enter the cowsheds and pose risk to the calves. “Mules are more dangerous. They kick us when we try to chase them away,” he said.
Hopes are now pinned at the new Kidu settlement at Chhubesa in Goenshari Gewog which is currently under construction.
His Majesty The King granted land kidu at Chhubesa to more than 190 households of Lunana in 2019.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
