In the remote hills of Daga Gewog’s Sili-Tasha Chiwog in Wangdue Phodrang, change is finally taking root. Once held back by poor roads, residents have struggled to keep up despite its fertile land. However, with the support from the gewog, new income-generating projects are bringing renewed hope, paving the way for self-reliance and growth in the chiwog.
64-year-old Aum Chetam has been living in this house for over a decade. She received the house as part of a Kidu from the Tarayana Foundation in 2011 and now lives alone. The foundation also supported the chiwog by constructing over ten houses and distributing CGI sheets to over 20 other households.
Despite the support, Aum Chetam’s income remains limited. She grows wheat and buckwheat but mostly uses the harvest to make alcohol for her own consumption, unable to improve her livelihood.
“We don’t do much paddy cultivation. Instead, we grow crops like wheat and buckwheat. We don’t sell them, we mostly use them to make different kinds of alcohol for our own consumption. Everyone here drinks and there is hardly anyone who doesn’t. Our people consume almost every type of alcohol.”
Life in the chiwog still reflects the simplicity of the past, pigs tied to wooden pole, cows in open spaces and chickens roaming freely. Residents have to travel over 80 kilometres from the chiwog to reach Bajo town.
Despite government support like farm machinery, fishery ponds, roads and electricity, progress in livelihood improvement remains slow.
According to some sources, many people in the chiwog show little interest in farming and focus more on drinking alcohol. Most depend on paddy, maize, and buckwheat for daily needs.
“Our buckwheat is mostly used to make alcohol or fed to cattle and it’s going to waste. We still have maize but no one comes to buy it, and now rats are destroying it. Everywhere we look, people are drinking and we do the same as well,” said Rinzin, a resident of Sili-Tasha Chiwog.
“Drinking has been a part of our culture since our forefathers’ time. Without anyone to guide or set an example, many people continue the habit. We could grow vegetables in our wetlands, but the timing clashes with paddy cultivation,” said Sonam Jamtsho, another resident, Sili-Taksha Chiwog.
“Our people do engage in farming activities. We cultivate paddy and grow maize, wheat, and buckwheat. However, we do not sell these crops in the market, and that becomes a problem. In the end, it affects our livelihood,” said Sangay Duba, also a resident of Sili-Taksha Chiwog.
“I feel that the main reason for their struggles is a lack of seriousness and hope, despite the support we have provided. For instance, we gave each household a greenhouse, but none of them have used it. I believe they are unable to generate income because they are unwilling to change,” said Sonam Wangmo, Sili-Taksha Tshogpa, Daga Gewog.
However, this is expected to change as the gewog has planned several initiatives to improve their livelihoods.
Over 10,000 fruit trees from the Million-Fruit Tree Plantation Project are close to bearing fruit. Every home is now connected to the main farm road through internal roads, with the main farm road set for blacktopping.
“After the road is fully improved, we are planning to form a marketing group with people from Sili, Tasha, and Tsara villages. This group will manage the marketing of all local products from the chiwog and even transport them to Thimphu if need be. We believe the plan will succeed within a few years. Although the people in this chiwog are indeed struggling now, we are hopeful and their livelihoods will improve soon,” said Kinga, Daga Gup, Wangdue Phodrang.
Gup added that the gewog administration has received several proposals to construct piggery and poultry farms in the chiwog. The gewog has also received proposals to lease state land for agricultural projects. The chiwog is home to more than eighty households.
Despite challenges like limited income and a strong drinking culture, the people of Sili-Tasha Chiwog are on a path towards better livelihoods and self-reliance through new planned initiatives.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Sonam Pem
