Bamboos to save villages

19 June 2009

Farmers from Changmey, Dangrey and Kharmey in Trashigang planted bamboo rhizomes, hedgerows and fodder in Pemachojey landslide area.

Around 2023 bamboo rhizomes, two varieties of hedgerows and two varieties of fodder were planted besides banana sucker and erithina species. The dzongkhag agriculture office gave some 300 citrus saplings to the villagers to be planted in the slide area.

The Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer (DAO), Dhendup Dukpa, said this would protect four villages from landslides.

According to him, the land at the foot of Changmey is used for paddy cultivation because of which the land becomes more loose and prone to erosion almost every year. “This time, we are planting bamboo rhizomes and shifting the land use to horticulture so that the farmers’ income is not affected as they will not be allowed to cultivate paddy,” said Dhendup Dukpa.

Dhendup said the farmers could sell bamboos and or anges. Today, a single bamboo rhizome costs Nu 150. If the plantation becomes a success, it would be turned into a pilot site where villagers from other gewogs and dzongkhags could come for field trips.

The plantation area is not fenced. Trashigang Dzongrab Phuntsho Gyelchen said that, until the dzongkhag could mobilise a fund for the fencing, the villagers had to protect the plantations from cattle and horses.

According to the DAO, a tshogpa or a committee would be formed from the villages to overlook and protect the area.

By Tempa Wangdi

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