COUNTRY BACKGROUND - Gross National Happiness Commission

Renewable Natural Resources
Institutional StrengtheningInstitutional Strengthening
17.55 The strengthening of MOA institutions is viewed as an important requirement for improving the services
provided to the rural population. All sections of the MOA will be strengthened, through training and recruitment of
additional staff. Technical level training of MOA staff will be improved with the opening of the Natural Resources
Training Institute, where staff will receive multi disciplinary training. The MOA will also assist in the development
of private sector, in order to encourage increased private sector involvement in marketing and input supply, and
thereby reduce RGOB involvement in these areas. Communities will also be assisted to develop their project
planning and management skills and will assume greater responsibility in project implementation.
Strengthening of Regional DevelopmentStrengthening of Regional Development
17.56 One of the major lessons learned in the 6FYP was in regard to the implementation of Area Development
Projects as described in Section II.B. During the 7FYP, Regional Development Areas (formerly zones) will be
established and will integrate all ADP activities. This will enable the wider spread of the benefits already gained
from ADP's. Single crop development programmes will be applied to other crops, but implemented within the
regional development programmes.
Integration of Environmental Sustainability into all Agricultural ActivitiesIntegration of Environmental
Sustainability into all Agricultural Activities
17.57 The supply of land for agricultural production is limited, with only small increases in production expected
from development of previously unused land. Thus sustainable development has to be based on sound conservation
practices, land management and land use planning programmes. One of the most important requirements for
sustainable utilisation is the development of land use planning capabilities, to identify and quantify natural
resources, current use and draw up long term plans for all areas of the country. Monitoring of land use should then
become an ongoing activity. Such capabilities will be developed in the 7FYP. Once these land use plans are
available the PPD will work with Regional and Dzongkhag level staff to develop appropriate programmes.
Environmental Impact Assessments will be undertaken for all new projects, with continuous monitoring of the
impact of project implementation. Research and extension activities will also be reoriented to include activities
which ensure the sustainability of agricultural production.
17.58 Rather than restricting agricultural production, particularly tsheri production, the MOA will assist
farmers to integrate new techniques into existing production systems. For example, agroforestry is considered to be
one of the new production systems which would be easily adapted by farmers into existing farming systems.
Farmer's attitudes towards soil conservation, as shown by refined terracing techniques and mulching systems, are
already highly developed. Since the expansion of agricultural land will only be possible by clearing forest areas, it
is important to identify those areas where this would be environmentally viable and where agroforestry would
present a viable alternative to logging. In the livestock subsector, emphasis will be placed on increasing
productivity to raise incomes rather than increasing livestock numbers.
IV. Development Programmes for the 7FYPIV. Development Programmes for the 7FYP
Arable Sector Development ProgrammeArable Sector Development Programme
17.59 As explained in above, support to the arable sub sector will be channelled through Regional and
Dzongkhag level extension staff. In order to achieve the objectives of increasing arable production on a sustainable
basis, it will be necessary to strengthen Regional and Dzongkhag planning and implementation capabilities. The
Central Support programmes will concentrate on the provision of support services to the Regional and Dzongkhag
levels. These will include research, extension, supply of seeds, and planting materials, farm mechanisation,
irrigation and other technical support services.
17.60 The new strategies for the arable sector will be implemented through the Accelerated Food Production
Programme (AFPP) and the Integrated Horticultural Development Programme (IHDP). The AFPP provides the
basis for promoting food self sufficiency through improvements in research and extension capabilities and the
IHDP concentrates on the development of high value cash crops. The AFPP will promote increases in the
productivity of cereal production, as the potential for raising output through increasing area cultivated is limited by
12