The Bumthang Dzongkhag Administration has initiated a winter vegetable cultivation program for the first time to meet the dzongkhag’s vegetable requirements in winter months. Through the program, 112 households in the four Gewogs cultivated vegetables in over eight acres of land.
Although the outcome looks promising, farmers say it is not without challenges
“Market is not an issue since we are able to sell our winter vegetables at the Sunday market. However, without enough greenhouses, it is a challenge because, by February, we have to start planting chilli seedlings. If we get support in purchasing the greenhouses we can produce enough vegetables for the winter months,” Phub Zangmo from Jalikhar, said.
“ With extreme cold, frost is a real challenge for winter vegetable cultivation here. Right now, we cover the vegetables with leaves but there are chances of the vegetables getting infested with pests. We need a net or greenhouses over our vegetable cultivation,” Tshering Pelden from Wangdicholing, said.
For this year, the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector started with 13 varieties of winter vegetables. They distributed 2,500 packets of seeds to the farmers.
“The winter vegetable production is challenging as it is entirely different from cultivating vegetables in summer. We need better ideas and skills but currently, we also have limited knowledge of it. It would benefit us too, if agriculture ministry provides us with required training, ”Kencho Dem, the Agriculture Extension Agent of Chhoekhor Gewog, said.
The dzongkhag administration is well aware of the challenges.
“We have some challenges like the extreme cold and inadequate water for vegetable cultivation. But these are some of the minor constraints. We are planning to resolve these issues. In the past, we don’t see many local vegetables in the market. But at present, we have enough vegetables at least for the consumption of Bumthang’s residents,” Pasang Dorji, the Bumthang Dzongda, said.
The vegetables are currently grown in greenhouses and some cold-climate vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli are grown outdoors. The program aims to produce over 40 metric tons of vegetables in winter.
