By this time of year, people from the picturesque village of Sagteng, in Trashigang, which is about 3,000 metres above sea level, migrate to higher altitude with their cattle. But not this time. They have instead started to move to the lower places and with a different purpose, to cultivate crops.
People from Sagteng, known as Brokpas, have always depended on yaks for their livelihood. But now they are feeling the need to cultivate crops which they cannot grow in their villages given the harsh weather conditions and the rugged terrain.
A resident of Sagteng, Rinchung, said Brokpas residing the villages of Sagteng have started to come down to Thrag Thri to grow maize, potato and beans. Thrag Thri is located a few kilometres downhill from Sagteng.
The Sagteng Gup, Tshewang Tshering, said the gewog is not worried about the trend. “I do not worry as they are not leaving the place permanently and going to a different gewog or Dzongkhag. Thrag Thri is under my gewog.”
Sagteng Gewog has five chiwogs with more than 250 households.
