As the climate changes, water is becoming scarce and unreliable. Farmers in Tsirang, who depend on agriculture, have long felt the strain. Today, even as rainfall grows more erratic, climate-resilient water systems introduced under the Advancing Climate Resilience of the Water Sector (ACREWAS) project are keeping farms irrigated.
Phurba Moktan from Mendrelgang Gewog runs an organic hub that produces organic manures such as vermicompost and bio-pesticides for the last four years. He also grows vegetables and mandarins in his three-acre land.
While healthy soil and natural nutrients are essential, reliable water is equally crucial to ensure good yields.
Until 2023, water shortages threatened his farm and the hub.
That changed with support from the Advancing Climate Resilience of the Water Sector project. With water storage tanks and sprinklers, Phurba now sees a sustainable livelihood in an organic hub. The sprinklers allow him to use the limited water he has more efficiently.
Phurba Moktan said, “In the past, I could harvest vegetables only once a week. Now I harvest three times a week. I sell vegetables to Gelephu Mindfulness City, Thimphu, and Paro.”
Like Phurba, more than 2,100 households across Tsirang have benefited from the project. It covers over 550 acres of farmland.
Irrigation tools have helped farmers manage limited water more efficiently.
Other support, such as mulching plastic, has boosted early Bhutanese chilli production. Chilli farming has long been a key source of income for the farmers.
Meena Ghishing, a farmer from Mendrelgang Gewog said, “Work that used to take two to three days can now be completed in just a day with the help of irrigation tools. After installing sprinklers, we can focus on other farm work. In the past, we had to irrigate vegetable farms manually.”
“We face severe irrigation water shortages in our community. For me, it is convenient since I have a private water line. However, irrigation water remains a serious problem for my neighbours,” said Harka Bdr. Tamang, a farmer from Patshaling Gewog.
“The irrigation water consumption has decreased after we installed sprinklers. The irrigation water shortage that used to be severe has been addressed to some extent now,” said Phul Man Tamang, a farmer from Patshaling Gewog.
Under the project, Tsirang’s agriculture sector received Nu 18 M to address irrigation water shortages.
Of this, over Nu 12 M was spent on irrigation systems.
Kinzang Chophel, the assistant district agriculture officer said, “We have assessed crop and vegetable productions of farmers for one year. When we converted the gross production into income, farmers generated approximately Nu 40 M from farming in that particular year.”
Mendrelgang Gewog’s Agriculture Extension Supervisor Ram Chandra Katal said, “With irrigation tools, farming becomes less laborious, allowing farmers to increase their cultivation area. It also helps save time and create a model farm that inspires our youth.”
“The project has been going well without any challenges so far. Farmers say the irrigation facilities have benefited a lot and are requesting more support. Accordingly, we have requested the gewog and district administrations to continue providing support to more farmers,” said Kelzang Dorji, Patshaling Gewog’s Agriculture Extension Supervisor.
The five-year project has also been supporting various agricultural land development projects in the district. The district agriculture sector has plans to mobilise additional budget from the project.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
