With nearly 140 mini tillers distributed in Chhukha, farmers in the district are expecting to work more efficiently. The villages have been experiencing a shortage of workforce and receiving the tillers is expected to ease the problem. The farmers received it on a cost-sharing basis where they have to pay only half the cost.
More than 30 farmers in Bongo Gewog gathered at the gewog office, all excited to take home a new mini tiller each. This is the third time that the gewog has received the tillers.
The Bongo Gup said people were interested in buying the tillers after they saw the tiller’s efficiency and convenience.
“This will be of great help. We have been ploughing our fields using oxen. There is a vast difference between what oxen can do and what these tillers can do. The ones who have already got the tillers were saying that work is much easier with the tillers,” said Tshering Lham, a farmer.
“There are not many people who have tillers here. We have to hire from the ones who have as there has been a shortage of tillers in the village. Now the new ones will benefit a lot,” said Kinzang Wangchuk, another farmer.
“Till now, we have been ploughing fields using oxen. A few years ago, some people were using tillers and we saw how efficient they were. Then I also wanted to get one. When using oxen, we also need to have favourable weather. And now we can work in any weather with the tillers,” said Thinley Gyeltshen, who is also a farmer.
“There is the issue of labour shortage due to rural-urban migration. The elderly ones and the women are the ones who are in the villages. So, we aim towards producing the maximum even with limited labour. With the tillers, three days of tasks can be done in a day and the expenses are lesser,” said Tshering Penjor, the Bongo Gup.
The quoted price of these Japan-made mini tillers is Nu 86,000. Farmers will have to pay only half of the price.
This is a part of the Food Security and Agriculture Productivity Project.
The gup said that the tillers were given to the families that have a smaller workforce.
During the distribution event, the farmers were briefed on the usage and operation of the tillers.
Similarly, the people of the other ten gewogs also received new tillers.
Kinley Dem, Chhukha
