More than a million fruit trees were planted across the country by the DeSuups in less than three months’ time. Such a feat has been achieved under a collaborated project of the De-Suung National Service and the agriculture ministry.
The official closing of the nationwide fruit trees plantation programme was held at Bongo Gewog in Chhukha on Saturday.
This milestone initiative is aimed at supplementing the national goals of achieving food security and supporting farming communities.
It is also to bring youth closer to the rural areas.
More than 2,000 DeSuups rolled up their sleeves and successfully completed the million fruit trees plantation programme. The fruit tree included Orange, Dragon Fruit, Almond, Pear, Peach and Avocado among others.
Some 200 DeSuups were trained by the agriculture research and development centres.
“Before rolling out the project, DeSuups underwent five days of training. They were trained on how to identify a location to plant the fruit tree. They also learnt about the required size of the hole to be dug, the types of manure and other required tips to undertake a project,” said an official from De-Suung Office, Sonam Wangchuk.
The agriculture ministry also did thorough research on fruit trees that are suitable for plantations in Bhutan.
“Before developing the project, we researched the altitudinal pattern of plants and all. We then distributed around 400,000 saplings for temperate climate regions and over 600,000 sub-tropical plants to warmer places,” said Yonten Gyamtsho, the Director of the Department of Agriculture.
A few years later, these fruit trees will bear fruits, which will enhance farmers’ income and boost the rural economy.
“If our farmers have to buy these fruit trees, they are easily available. Even if they manage to get some, it won’t be of good quality. We thank DeSuups for helping us plant these seedlings. They are passionate and well skilled,” said Bongo Gup Tshering Penjor.
Like people and local leaders of Bongo Gewog, farmers from the rest of the country view the million fruit trees plantation programme as an appropriate measure to scale up food security efforts.
They pointed this out in view of the ongoing pandemic and the soaring global food prices, triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war.
Sonam Penjor, Chhukha
Edited by Pema Lhaden
