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Brief report on Agriculture Sector |
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Introduction
Soon after the inception of the then Department of Agriculture due importance was given on development of extension components and extension was chosen as a main focal point to enhance mobilization of rural economic status by supplying all the necessary crop production and plant protection services provided at their door steps at free of cost. Since time immemorial our Bhutanese society was predominantly occupied by agriculture, was attaining self sufficiency in terms of food security. But as the time pass by need to change was felt immensely as the country went on developing at par with the rest of the world.
Though the extension services were functioning good as desired and envisaged, but later when the Ministry of agriculture went to reorganize departments and units under it and even changed some policies to be precise and increase the efficiency of the people working in it. Hence, the supply and sale of seeds and seedlings was dropped from the extension agent’s activity and accordingly handed over to the commission agents to perform the task but without affecting interest of the general public.
Activities from center
The Dzongkhag agriculture sector mainly concentrates on the centrally planned activities.
1. Plan and implement activities funded by the World Bank, activities under it are
Construction of farm roads and Power tiller tracks.
Construction of RNR center.
Development of extension components.
Also takes care of the farmers field school, with financial aid from the WWMP,Paro.
2. Perform administrative works
3. Carry out overall monitoring of the extension activities carried out by the geog extension agents.
Activities at geog
Though overall monitoring is being carried out from the center, but actual planning, implementation and monitoring is done in the geog’s itself by the concern extension agents.
Basically the activities in the geog include planning and implementation of the following programs:
Food security (i.e. promotion of cereal crops by supplying seeds at free of cost)
Income generation (Promotion of horticultural crops, supplying of vegetables and fruit tree seedlings)
Institutional and capacity development.(farmers are embark on better crop production techniques)
Rural livelihood Development programs, under this basic infrastructure development are done. I.e. construction and rehabilitation of irrigation channels, focusing on the construction of farm roads and power tiller tracks.
Similarly adhoc programmes are also carried on as per the urgency and need based. Like collection of crop production data’s from the variable agro-climatic zones in order to have information at a glance, as well; to be used as a basis data for planners and executives.
Major potential crops produced in Tsirang Dzongkhag are:
1. Paddy
2. Maize
3. Millet
4. Buckwheat
5. Wheat
Potential or the major cash generating crops are:
1. Citrus
2. Ginger
3. Vegetables
Techniques used in crop production and management by the farmers are still in conventional methods and agriculture extension have an immense role to play; in order to lift the quality of agriculture farming system in the community.
Staff strength
Sl Designation No.
1 DAO 1
2 ADAO 1
3 AAEO 7
4 Supervisor 4
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