Every year, farmers across the country are left devastated as they lose crops to bad weather. To address this issue, the Agriculture Ministry has identified three strategies.
The first strategy is to provide weather forecasts for longer durations.
Kinley Tshering, the Director of Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives said, “The existing one to three days forecast is not effective for the farmers so we will try to bring a weather forecast of at least seven days. If it goes well we will work on bringing weather forecast of a month and make people aware for their convenience.”
The second plan is to procure additional combined harvester machines which can reap and thrash paddy at the same time. At present, farmers first harvest their crops, dry them for a few days and then thrash them. And it is during this time that farmers lose their crops when there are calamities such as heavy rainfall.
The third strategy identified by the ministry is to give timely expert advice on harvesting and sowing time.
The director added, “We will need the people’s support for these strategies to work well. Our experts will let you know how to avoid the retreating monsoon. Similarly, we would also procure additional combined machines and supply in various dzongkhags that grow paddy on a larger scale.”
20 combined harvesters are expected to arrive from Japan towards the year’s end. Currently, there are 15 combine machines with FMCL.
Namgay Wangchuk, Paro
Edited by Sangay Chezom
