The government plans to bring in more farm machinery such as combine harvesters for farmers from Japan. The agriculture and livestock minister shared this during the National Assembly’s question hour session, today. A combine harvester machine is used to harvest mostly paddy in major rice-growing districts in the country. The machine has been particularly helpful in places facing labour shortage during harvest season.
During the session, Lamgong-Wangchang MP Sonam Tashi from Paro raised concerns about the increasing need for more combine harvester, considering the labour shortages among farmers, especially during paddy harvesting season.
He highlighted that inadequate combine harvester resulting in delayed harvesting and labour shortage have led to decrease in rice production in the district over the years.
The MP said the number of paddy growers in Paro decreased by 11 per cent between 2020 to 2021.
“About four or five years ago, the combine harvester helped a lot in addressing labour shortage and has been efficient. Paro’s Farm Machinery Corporation Limited has given that support. However, the machines were unable to reach all the paddy fields on time, as a result, harvest got delayed last year,” said Sonam Tashi, Lamgong-Wangchang MP.
In response, the agriculture and livestock minister said the ministry is trying to bring in more farm machinery. According to the minister, the country has about 25 combine harvesters as of now. Each combine harvestor machine costs about Nu 1.8 M.
“Right now, from the ministry’s side, we are working on a loan proposal with the Japan government to buy not only combine harvesters but other farm machinery as well. However, receiving grants from Japan is an issue now since we have graduated from the Least Developing Country category,” said Younten Phuntsho, Agriculture and Livestock Minister.
Other members of the house questioned the minister on how the ministry plans to solve the labour shortage problem in places that cannot use farm machinery.
“Even if people receive farm machinery they are unable to use the machine due to the geographical terrain. So, we need people to work in some places. However, the youth are not living in the villages. It is only old people back in the villages. So, even if the village receives farm machinery, there is no one to use the machine,” said Naiten Wangchuk, Monggar MP.
To this, the minister said the ministry is planning to bring in foreign workers as day workers.
Furthermore, the minister said the ministry plans to address the decrease in paddy production through various projects in the 13th Five Year Plan, which include providing good irrigation channel throughout the country.
Singye Dema
Edited by Phub Gyem
