The season can’t get any better than this. With the landscape coming to life after the harsh winter, people are also slowly returning to some degree of normalcy after the prolonged lockdown. And the ongoing ‘A Million Fruit Trees Plantation Project’ came along, indicating a new beginning to life. In Paro, hopeful residents went for high-value fruit trees such as Kiwi and Japanese Pears to adorn their orchards for a better income.
Forty-two-year-old Rinzin is among the more than 3,600 recipients of fruit tree saplings in Paro. Rinzin and her husband, originally from Punakha, bought a plot of land with few apple trees in 2014. Since then she has been planting fruit trees on her 43-decimal land. She said she used to buy saplings for not less than ngultrum 100 in the past. Recently she planted five saplings from the project for free with guidance from the Desuups. Today she is mostly seen weeding and watering the young plants.
“Desuups came to our fields and taught us how to plant the trees. We were also taught how to water the plants. It is a delight to see my nurtured plants growing. We are determined to care for the plants,” said Rinzin, from Jangteyna in Wangcha Gewog.
Like her, Kezang Tshering, from Bondey, also received saplings from this project.
“I planted apple, peach, cherry, kiwi and a walnut tree. In four to five years these trees will start fruiting and we can make income from it. I think that is His Majesty’s vision and we will exactly do that,” he said.
Officials said people opted for fruits that are easy to sell and that fetched more prices.
“People here did not opt for apples because they already have plenty of that. Their main interest was kiwi and Japanese Pears. We had to ask for additional kiwi saplings and we distributed them evenly,” said Tandin, the Paro Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer.
The growth of the trees will be monitored using Smart App MoDA, Mobile Operation & Data Acquisition. Officials said any plant failing to grow properly will be replaced.
The Million Fruit Trees Plantation Project, an initiative of the De-Suung National Service, was launched last month. It is envisioned to bring youth closer to rural Bhutan, foster food security and support the farmers.
Namgay Wangchuk, Paro
Edited by Sonam
