Field letter of internship at Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative by Chisato Maeda, Wageningen University - Vol.

5 15 September 2011

Go Organic @Bhutan
Post harvest technology
Organic farming training in Rekhey

One of the challenges to do farming in S/J is post

harvest losses. Especially, in monsoon season, maize storage loss is amounted to 30%. Mr. Negi advised farmers how to preserve and treat seeds; There is no single solution. It depends on the local condition, crop species, specific pest and diseases. So, it is important to combine several technologies. Use clean seeds, dry properly (ie. hanging cobs above stove with smoke). Mixing with dried plants such as Neem (Azadirachta indica) or pepper can suppress pest problems. Some pest repellant weeds can be toxic for human, such as tobacco leaves. These are only used for un-threshed grain or seed grain.

ORGANIC FARMING SAMDRUP JONGKHAR

TRAINING

IN

On

March to April 2011, 19 farmers, who were selected as local leaders of organic farming, got trained at counterpart, Navdanya (NGO in India) intensively (see news letter vol1). Mr. Negi, a trainer of Navdanya, came to Bhutan to conduct 10 days training in Samdrup Jongkhar (S/J) from 12th to 22nd July. Two local farmers in Deothang, who joined organic farming training in India, helped the training, demonstrating how to make compost to the participants in three villages. 20-30 farmers participated in each village. A farmer who came late complained, Why didnt you inform me? I also wanted to join! It seems that they are very interested to learn new things.

Practical training on Integrated Nutrient management

The soil is getting old, and cannot work well. If we neglect it, the soil also becomes lazy, just like human being. (a farmer in Phuntshothang gewog)

Farmers commented on their soil humorously; the

soil is also aging. It is required to refill energy to revive the old soil. Punch gaviya (five wastes from cow) is applied as a promoter of micro-organism, originated in India. Five wastes from caw (dung, urine, milk, curd and ghee) are mixed (see the recipe below) and applied before plowing. Punch gaviya was demonstrated during the training. According to a farmer, his weak potato was reviving its health after spreading this. The farmer enthusiastically said, I was shocked to see the plants growing very fast, same as using urea. Ingredient of punch gaviya per acre: Cow dung 5kg Cow urine 5 litter Milk 2 litter Curd 2kg Ghee 500g Besides composting, nutrient can be incorporated by planting green manure, and intercropping with leguminous crops. Also, it is important to prevent soil loss by various soil and water conservation practices. A farmer said we are also traditionally practicing intercropping or mulching, but did not know why we are doing. Today, we understand the importance of nutrient and soil conservation.

Workshop on plant breeding and seed conservation

Farmers preserve seeds of rice, maize, and beans

by themselves, but they get vegetable seeds mostly from AEO (Agricultural Extension Officer) or buy from Indian market. According to farmers, quality of seeds provided by AEO is better than that of own preserved. Mr. Negi told them that if they rely on seeds from India or AEO, they may face problems in future. Seeds were supplied for free also in India by government before, and farmers forgot how to produce by themselves. Now farmers in India rely on buying hybrid seeds of multi-national company, which became extra financial burden for them. Farmers in Deothang asked many questions to him about how to produce spinach seeds, how to preserve it, seed treatments against pest and diseases.

Field letter of internship at Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative by Chisato Maeda, Wageningen University - Vol.5 15 September 2011

FIELD VISITS

During my stay in Bhutan, I was personally curious

to know various aspects of agriculture in local context, and visited many local organizations or programs in addition to the farm interview.

are given to the highest bidder, and FCB collects the payment from the buyer to ensure the income for growers. Instead, FCB charges 6% commission; 3% from the growers and 3% from the buyers.

Potato

Sunday market in Phuntshothang

In

S/J market, most of the vegetables are coming from India, and difficult to find local fresh products. On the other hand, weekly vegetable market is the place where we can find local products. Phuntshothang Sunday Market is held once in a week from early morning until noon. It was crowded with local people selling and buying fresh vegetables. Most of the products sold here are locally produced. Highland farmers come down only once a week by horse, taking three hours, to sell their products. I was excited to see Banana flowers, Bamboo shoots, wild potatoes, which are not usually sold at dairy market.

import from India is increasing. Especially, from January to April, potato price is substantially dropped in India. Indians buy potatoes from Bhutan, because the quality of potato in Bhutan is better. Also, India cannot supply enough amount of potato during off-season (Sep-Nov), which is Bhutans peak season, said a staff of FCB. Demand for potato seeds is considerable in November in India, when they start to sow potato. Farmers in S/J do not grow much quantity now. AEO in Deothang is trying to form a potato group to catch up the increasing demand.

Reviving Indigenous chicken project

RNR-RC

Highland farmers come to Sunday market with horse

Auction yard in Samdrup Jongkhar

Jakar in Bhumthang is challenging to revive local chicken breed under the cooperation of National Biodiversity Center (NBC) and College of Natural Resource (CNR). Bhutanese indigenous poultry breeds are in danger due to introduced commercial breeds. According to a researcher from RNR-RC Jakar, improved chickens have forgotten how to hatch and grow their own chicks. New born chicks need mothers heat, but improved chickens do not take care of their chicks. So, farmers have to buy chicks every time to replace. Indigenous breeds produce less egg, but physically stronger and egg production lasts longer. In addition, indigenous breeds have more nutritional values. Four indigenous breeds of chicks, 60 in total were born in the hatchery in CNR.

Auction yard is a system to optimize the interaction

between growers and buyers, operated by Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB). There are four auction yards in Bhutan; Samtshe, Gueleph, Phuntsholing and Samdrup Jongkhar. The main products traded in S/J are two; orange (traded from 15th November to 28th February) and potato (traded from 1st June to 30th November). Buyers should be registered before the auction. According to the staff of FCB, 10-15 buyers registered for potato, and 40-50 for orange and most of the buyers are from India. Growers are from Bhutanese eastern six districts. Orange growers are mostly from Pemagathel and S/J. Farmers grade their products into 3-4 levels by themselves, and they get a Lot card from FCB. Buyers are allowed to slit the bag to assess the quality of the products. Lots

Tokokga Organic Farmers Market

farm

and

Organic

Tokokga

organic farm is a private farm near Punakha. The farm manager Mr. Rinchen Dorji, got a mission to establish organic farm and to multiply organic varieties in 2009 after retirement from Druk Seed company. He is growing indigenous variety as well as imported varieties from Europe and South Asia to increase agro-biodiversity. Main cash crops

Field letter of internship at Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative by Chisato Maeda, Wageningen University - Vol.5 15 September 2011

are basil, celery, cabbage and maize. It was first time to hear that maize is a cash crop, as most of farmers grow it for self-consumption. According to Mr. Rinchen, corn can be cash crop. When processed, it can be sold at double price; Nu.20 (1$=Nu.45) per corn. Totokga also grows forgotten cereal species such as pearl millet, finger millet, and foxtail millet. Millets are not grown these days because of diet change and introduction of more productive crops such as rice. Birds especially like millets and sometimes all millets are eaten, if not cared well. Tokokga grows them to preserve cultural values.

Agro-ecological sustainability assessment was conducted in terms of 3P sustainability (EN: environment, EC: economic and SC: social sustainability) in line with GNH indicators. Among 9 GNH indicators, considering accessibility of data and relation with agriculture, Time use, Community vitality, Health, Environmental diversity and resilience, and Living standard were used. (1) Environmental diversity and resilience EN1 Soil quality / EN2 Agro-biodiversity / EN3 Landscape (2) Living standard EC1 Productivity / EC2 Income / EC3 Operation costs (3) Time Use SC1 Labour input (4) Health SC2 Food self-sufficiency (5) Community Vitality SC3 collective action The results show that indicators obtained for the hilly areas, where maize is mainly cultivated, were relatively high and well-balanced. On the other hand, in the plains, where paddy is main crop, values were lower for time use and living standard (Figure 1).
EN1 soil quality
1

(L) Pearl millet (R) Corn double priced just by baking

Farmers market in Thimphu is held every weekend,

from Friday to Sunday. In the ground floor, cereals or imported vegetables are mainly sold, and first floor is allocated only for local products, also Organic Farmers corner is located there. Tokokga organic farm brings the products to farmers market on Friday, and products are almost sold out on Saturday, According to the manager, production is not enough for consumer demand. However, organic products for domestic market are not yet formally certified as organic. According to a staff of National Organic Program (NOP), organic certification standard is already formed, but training for certification agent is necessary before implementation.

SC3 social cohesion

0.8 0.6 0.4

EN2 agrobiodiversity

SC2 selfsufficiency

0.2 0

EN3 landscape

SC1 labour EC3 moderate cost Hilly maize 1 Plain rice 1

EC1 productivity EC2 income Hilly maize 2 Plain rice 2

Figure1. Spider diagram sustainability assessment

of

agro-ecological

DOES ORGANIC FARMING INCREASE GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS (GNH)?

One

of the reasons I decided to do internship in Bhutan was my interest in GNH; whether Organic Agriculture can contribute to increase GNH. GNH indicators used by Center for Bhutan Studies are; (1) Psychological well-being, (2) Time use, (3) Community vitality, (4) Culture, (5) Health, (6) Education, (7) Environmental diversity and resilience, (8) Living standard, and (9) Governance.

In terms of improving GNH, all dimensions should be developed in balanced. However, there are trade-offs between indicators such as costs, profit, and labour requirement. Farm machinery to save labour will increase operating costs, and probably decrease community vitality due to substitution of exchange labour by machinery. It is required to develop appropriate technology to save labour without harming social relationship and environment.

Field letter of internship at Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative by Chisato Maeda, Wageningen University - Vol.5 15 September 2011

Druk Ge Goem The Guest

you as part of my family. Sometimes my uncle told me to take care of his relatives or friends. So we are used to welcoming guests, said a friend. No wonder Bhutanese are hospitable to strangers wherever I go. This big family system may naturally nurture hospitable mind.

What makes ones life complete?

What makes your life 100%? Money? Love?

A tourist from New York, Michael got lost in the trek from Gasa to Laya. A yak herder in Laya, Tshomo, found a man injured in the forest and took him in her camp. They do not understand with each other, and try to communicate by body language. Finally, Michael proposed her to marry him. Druk ge geom. (the guest) shows Bhutanese great hospitality to treat the guests.

When alphabet is converted into number (A=1, B=2Z=26); - MONEY=13+15+14+5+25=72%, 28% is lacking - LOVE=12+15+22+5=54%, less than money! - LUCK=12+21+3+11=47%; only luck cannot work, - HARD WORK =8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11=98%, Almost! But 2% is missing. Then, what makes life complete? - ATTITUDE=1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5=100% Yes, attitude toward life can make our life 100%. Change attitude, and be happy!

Travelers and Magicians

Bhutanese doctor said he never saw somebody get

The two stories on a traveler and a magician are on

parallel. A new officer transferred to a remote village, travels to Timphu to have interview in pursuit for the dream to go to America, while a magician tries to escape from boring village and met a beautiful woman in a forest. Both are longing for better life. The magician tries to kill her husband to marry her. The officer gradually gets attracted by a girl, whom he met during his travel. Going to America or back to the village? Both traveler and magician are caught in dilemma.

stomach ache due to stress, except eating too much chili. Bhutanese do not take small failure seriously. I noticed that happiness comes from the attitude other than anything else, and that Bhutanese has natural potential to be happy.

Sustainable livelihood

Coming

The Golden cup

The film depicts the curse of the golden cup, a talisman of good fortune, which passes on to all the women in the family generations. Lhamo, betrayed by her lover Tshering while pregnancy, devoted her life to evil power passed from her mother to revenge his new family. She revenged finally, but it made her empty and grieved. In the end, she killed herself before her evil power was passed to her and Tsherings daughter.

back to Japan, I realized that too many packaged foods are flooding everywhere in Japan. We can enjoy any vegetables in any time with chemical additives. Kids cannot see how carrots are grown in the soil. Convenient food supply deprives the feeling of seasonal change and thus the mind to thank for natures gift. Difficult to find veges in off-season in Bhutan, but I feel happy to find different fruits in different cities and seasons. Five months stay in Bhutan gave me important lessons. This is the final letter and the end of my story in Bhutan, however, my challenges never endThank you for reading. Hope to see you somewhere in this small world. Final report can be requested.

Tashi Delek !
Acknowledgements
First of all, thanks for all farmers interviewed. I appreciate SJI members, staffs of RNR and CNR for their help. The research was under the supervision of Biological Farming Systems Group in Wageningen University and Navdanya (Indian NGO). Finally, warm wishes to readers.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE IN BHUTAN

Big families nurture hospitality
Every time I stayed at Bhutanese home, I was welcomed by big families. It is common to see nephew, niece, brother-in-low, and even relatives of sister-in-lows are staying in one house. I consider

Contact: Chisato Maeda

MSc Organic Agriculture Wageningen University m_chisato726@hotmail.com/ maeda.chisato@gmail.com