Chukha and Samtse are the two districts identified under the pilot project “livelihood enhancement of small farmers in the SAARC region through small-scale agribusiness focusing on value chain development” in Bhutan.
Under the project, the Department of Agriculture with the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) plans to establish agro-processing units, train farmers in some of the best farming practices and help to market their products.
“We have been participating in this project to learn and gain expertise from other countries,” Dechen Tshering, the Chief Post-Production Officer of the Department of Agriculture, said.
The project will help SAARC member countries to strengthen the agriculture market system. It is also expected to help farmers in minimizing post-harvest losses of farm produce and create employment for youths and women among others.
“Bhutan’s small farmers will be benefited out of this project by adopting the new technologies, adopting the best practices and enhancing their production capacity and getting a market linkage,” Dr Sunil Motiwal, the Chief Executive Officer of SDF, said.
The two-year project is funded by the SDF.
