GTZ Project Document No. 51 Report on Nahi Baseline Survey

Nahi Baseline Survey April- May 2001present road alignment. Therefore, some farmers are skeptical about the usefulness of theroad to them due to the mismatch between the alignment of road and the location ofvillages.Some farmers in the lower valley especially from Tshokothang village, mentioned of notusing the road since their village is located away from the road. A few farmers evenstated the road as insignificant for them since they still use the existing old route that ismuch shorter and faster for them.3.3.3 BenefitsThere are many direct as well indirect benefits to the farmers from the road. One directbenefit according to most of the respondents is the transportation of goods in and out ismade relatively much easier and faster compared to the past where everything has to betransported by horse or labour.Access to hospitals and other facilities have been made much easier and faster. Accordingto one respondent from the lower valley, … “the road has gone at the base of our village,but still it is a blessing for us to have the road from every respect, especially when wehave to go to hospitals with sick family members the road has made life much easy wheresick person can be easily reached to the hospital with less hassle unlike in the past wherethe situation becomes too complicated and difficult both for the sick and those personstrying to carry the sick person to the hospital…. ”Some farmers who own power tiller are already able to make use of them for transportinggoods and people in and out of the valley.The access road also have relieved the farmers from contributing labour for carrying thestationeries and other items for the primary school from Wangdue which they have to dooccasionally prior to the construction of the road.3.4 Changes in farmers’ activitiesAbout 72% of the total respondents from the upper and lower valley have expressed theirinterest to go for some changes in their farming and other activities. More number offarmers (41%) from the lower valley is interested to go for changes as compared to thefarmers (32%) from the upper valley.The road may be an important infrastructure change in the valley, but not many farmersare in a position to share what exactly they plan for a change in their cropping activities,livestock compositions, and other areas. In other words many farmers are unable to shareany information or express their visions and expectations they have as a result of themotorable road facility. Many respondents remained silent while some simply said “noidea”.On the other hand there are also some farmers with clear visions as what they are goingto take up or initiate in future. The views (Table 3.2) expressed by some of therespondents are; increase the production of vegetables and fruits, purchase farm34