The Sarpang District Administration plans to use the available land resources sustainably in the 2024-2025 financial year. To this effect, the district agriculture division met with the local leaders of the 12 gewogs to discuss and prepare an action plan for the sustainable land management project.
During the meeting, the Sarpang District Agriculture Officer introduced the local leaders to various methods of sustainable land management techniques and their advantages.
They were introduced to hedgerow plantations to prevent loss of soil from fields, building stone bunds and bench terracing to prevent soil erosion, creating buffer zones and water source protection using locally available resources at a low budget.
The District Agriculture Officer said these sustainable land management techniques can help improve productivity, conserve natural resources, reduce environmental impact, and ensure long-term sustainability.
“When it rains heavily out here, there is a possibility of flash floods and landslides. We cannot undo the past incidents but we can prevent the occurrence of such incidences in the future through the adoption of sustainable land management techniques,” said Kinley Namgay, District Agriculture Officer.
Some of the participants said that the land management programme would help reduce monsoon-related disasters and also benefit the farmers owning land on slopes.
“The lands are mostly located on slopes in Jigmechhoeling Gewog. There are various kinds of sustainable land management techniques such as stone bunds and check dams. Through the adoption of such methods on the steep slope we could prevent the occurrence of flash floods,” said Balbadhur Monger, Jigmecchoeling Mangmi.
“It is a good initiative by the District Agriculture Officer. Although the topography of most of the areas in Gelephu is plain, this technique can be useful in some places like the Gungteydangra and Raidangrav. The techniques provide the advantages of lands remaining safe from erosion and the adoption of hedgerow plantations and check dams also helps us grow maize,” said Sonam Drakpa, Gelephu Mangmi.
The meeting also focused on the million-fruit tree plantation project in Sarpang.
The farmers were briefed on the plantation and caring techniques of the fruit trees. About 50,000 trees of six varieties of fruits will be distributed across 12 gewogs of Sarpang. The District Agriculture Sector plans to distribute the million fruit saplings depending on the altitude of the locations.
Areas in the high-altitude range such as Jigmechhoeling, Chhudzom and some chiwogs of Gakiling Gewog will be provided with almond, pecan nut, and walnut saplings.
Likewise, orange, avocado and seedless lime will be distributed to the mid-altitude areas and seedless lime, Irwan mango and macadamia nuts will be given to residents in the low-altitude areas.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Phub Gyem
