A group of eight guides calling themselves Active COVID-19 has leased two acres of land near Kichu Lhakhang in Paro for farming. The land is leased from a private individual for two years.
The group started developing the land with machinery assistance from the Dzongkhag from April 6. The group has been reaching out to other guides in Paro as well. Around 22 guides joined them on April 10.
The group is offering a daily wage of Nu 500 with free refreshment and lunch to the guides.
Speaking to BBS, Tshering Pelden, a guide and member of the group, said that guides are facing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We expect this initiative to benefit us all. Our goal is to address the shortage of vegetable after the lockdown in India and substitute vegetable import,” he said.
Tshering Choki, another member of the group and a freelance guide, said that their main intention is to make essential vegetables like chillies available at normal prices in the market.
Sangay Chophel, a freelance guide who is helping the group, said, “Some of us have no savings and are having trouble paying rents. From the little wage we get from the work here, we might be able to sustain ourselves during the pandemic.”
Kishore Kumar Thapa, another freelance guide, said that the travel ban following the pandemic has affected their lives and their living standards.
“As of now, I have no source of income,” he said.
The Active COVID-19 group has received strong support from Paro Dzongkhag. The Dzongkhag will provide them with technical assistance and seeds.
The Guides Association of Bhutan is also helping the group.
The group plans to continue with the farming even in the future, if things go well. There are over 100 freelance guides in Paro and a total of over 4,000 guides in the country.
Namgay Wangchuk
