COUNTRY BACKGROUND - Gross National Happiness Commission

Renewable Natural Resources
the shortage of suitable land. This can be achieved through the introduction of new cropping patterns to improve
soil fertility, such as incorporation of legumes into the farming system. Under the IHDP, a Horticultural section will
be established within the Research and Extension Division, to provide assistance to producers in the form of
research, extension and marketing support. The Potato Development Programme will be integrated into the IHDP
and Regional Plans.
Research Research
17.61 Research programmes will be strengthened and expanded to examine the constraints to increasing food
production in all 5 agro ecological zones. Irrigation, mechanisation and post harvest losses research will be
integrated into the research programme. Greater participation of farmers and extension agents in on-farm testing
will ensure that research is relevant to farmers' needs and higher adoption rates. The DOA will pay more attention
to the integration of fodder and other animal husbandry considerations into arable production systems. The
integration of all three Departmental research programmes will be the subject of a joint RGOB/ISNAR review.
ExtensionExtension
17.62 The extension service will be improved, largely at the Regional and Dzongkhag level, through training of
staff and farmers, establishment of Regional Training Centres, upgrading of extension facilities, and improvements
in information and publications. Extension methods will focus more on farmer participation in problem solving and
transfer of technology at the farm level. This will require an expansion in the number of extension agents to 400,
an increase of 167, and will provide a Extension Agent to farmer ratio of 1:150. The output of the National
Agricultural Training Institute at Paro and the new National Resources Training Institute at Lobesa will be
increased from 20 to 25 per year to provide for the increase.
Seed Production and DistributionSeed Production and Distribution
17.63 With the wider adoption of new technology, it will become all the more necessary to produce and distribute
improved seeds and planting materials. The production and distribution will be decentralised to reduce transport
costs and wherever possible, farmers will be contracted for seed multiplication and private sector retailers will be
encouraged to sell seeds to farmers.
Input Delivery SystemsInput Delivery Systems
17.64 The adoption of new technology will require increased supplies of other agricultural inputs such as
fertilisers. This will be facilitated through the expansion of storage facilities and improvements in the management
of the revolving funds operated by Dzongkhag extension staff.
Plant Protection ServicesPlant Protection Services
17.65 The Plant Protection Services will be responsible for research based on the Integrated Pest Management
concept, including pathology, entomology and other plant protection research. The Plant Protection Service will
provide advisory services to other units within the DOA and to farmers through the training of farmers and
extension staff. The services will be decentralised through the establishment of Regional Plant Protection Centres in
Tashigang and Geylegphug. Plant protection chemicals will continue to be provided through the service and to
discourage indiscriminate, environmentally damaging use, subsidies will be reduced. Pesticide legislation and plant
quarantine guidelines will be drawn up.
Irrigation DevelopmentIrrigation Development
17.66 Activities in the 7FYP will be based on the Irrigation Sector Study, which will have been completed by the
end of the 6FYP. The emphasis of irrigation development will be on rehabilitation of existing schemes, examination
of new materials and technologies, exploration of groundwater potential for use in irrigation and training of farmers
in project planning and management skills, to encourage greater involvement of farmers in the operation of the
schemes, particularly through formation of Water Users Associations.
Farm MechanisationFarm Mechanisation
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