Co-ops galore in Trashigang

31 August 2009

Trashigang Dzongkhag will be supporting more than 40 dairy, 14 poultry and four piggery cooperatives to tap domestic livestock market to achieve self-sufficiency and employment in rural Bhutan.

According to the dzongkhag, six dairy cooperatives including Pam Medey Gonor Gongphel Tshogpa and Galing Pam Medey Gonor Gongphel Tshogpa are already functional.

The remaining 34 groups, which are in their initial stage, will be supported in this fiscal year. Currently, there are around 112 households involved in cooperatives. The dzongkhag livestock office has distributed construction materials to build silage. Ten collection sheds with fridges have been constructed at a cost-sharing basis.

According to Dzongkhag Livestock Officer (DLO), Dr Tshering Dorjee, dairy cooperatives in Trashigang will be silage-supported since the eastern part of Bhutan is not favourable for pasture development because of limited landholdings. Therefore, the dzongkhag is trying to capitalize on crop residues.

Dr Tshering Dorjee said Trashigang and Trashiyangtse are the only dzongkhags in the country to support silage. To meet the fodder needs of the dairy cooperatives, the dzongkahg is planning to develop fodder conservation technology through support of silo pit construction.

It would not only sustainable but also complementary to the agriculture farming system. However, every gewog is planning to raise a fodder nursery to meet its fodder requirement.

The DLO said Bhutan had the biggest potential agro-ecological zone requiring only minimal input. “The idea is to transfer modern technology to farmers,” said Tshering Dorjee.

“We need productive cattle supported by modern technology.” Besides, to find international market, the dzongkhag is also supporting the cooperatives in product diversification.

Two processing units have already been set up in Pam in Samkhar Gewog and Buna in Shongphu Gewog. Depending only on traditional products will not sustain the groups for long, according to the DLO.

Six poultry cooperatives in the dzongkhag have become functional. Eight of them will get their birds soon, says the dzongkhag.

In order to meet the demand for more than 16,000 pullets, the dzongkhag is encouraging commercial enterprises to raise day-old chicks.

Two of the four piggeries are functional in Kangpar Gewog and Yangnyer.

According to the DLO, the dzongkhag aims to make livestock farming attractive by generating rural income.

Poultry and piggery are aimed at the poor and landless, elderly farmers and female-headed households while dairy is expected to be taken up by upper and middle class farmers.

By Tempa Wangdi

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