Tsirang Dzongkhag is located in the south-central part of the country and has
an area of 638.3sq.km. The altitude ranges from 400 to 2000 meters above sea level. Approximately 58% of the land is under forest cover comprising mainly of broadleaf and chirpine species while 42% is under agricultural cultivation.
Tsirang Dzongkhag is administratively divided into 12 Gewogs namely Barshong, Beteni, Dunglagang, Gosarling, Kikhorthang, Mendrelgang, Patala,
Phuntenchu, Rangthangling, Semjong, Tsholingkhar and Tsirangtoe. Changchey which is located under Gosarling Gewog is the satellite town and
Mendrelgand which is located under Mendrelgang gewogs is also one of satellite town. Damphu which is located in Kikhorthang Gewog is the main town and the administration center. Under 12 Gewogs there are 96 villages and 65 chiwogs. Each chiwog has one Tshokpa and one chipon.
The Dzongkhag has good development potential. Favorable as well as diverse agro-ecological features provide the Dzongkhag with potential for the cultivation of many different types of cereals as well as horticulture crops. Paddy, Maize and Millet are the major cereal crops grown while orange, cardamom and vegetables are the principal cash crops. Mandarin constitutes an important source of cash income for most of the farmers. Livestock rearing is also an important economic activity contributing to both subsistence consumption and income generation although livestock productivity is limited due to the dominance of local livestock population.
With the Wangdue-Sarpang high way passing through the Dzongkhag and a good internal road as well mule track network, most of the gewogs in the Dzongkhag are well connected. The Dzongkhag benefits from market access to major towns like Gelephu and Thimphu. The shortage of power supply is, however, a major constraint faced by the Dzongkhag. At present, only households in Damphu town have electricity connections.
Agriculture and livestock extension services are provided by RNR Extension
Center, two Agriculture extension center and two livestock extension center. Two more RNR Extension center at Semjong and Gosarling Geogs are under construction. In term of education facilities, there is a total of nine schools – one higher secondary namely; Damphu Higher Secondary School, three lower secondary namely; Tsirangtoe, Mendrelgang and Damphu lower Secondary Schools, Three primary school namely; Patala, Salami and Beteni Primary schools and two Community Primary school namely; Semjong and Gosarling schools, and also total of 30 NFE centers. The re-opening of many schools and health centers in the pipeline is expected to further improve education health coverage in the Dzongkhag.
The Dzongkhag consist of a General Hospital in Damphu, four Basic Health Units (BHUs) in Mendrelgang, Patala, Tsirangtoe and Dunglagang Gewogs and nine Outreach Clinics (ORCs) in Barshong, Semjong ,Tsholingkhar, Patala, Goserling, Dunglagang, Phuntenchu, Beteni and Rangthangling Gewogs. Child immunization coverage is about 98% and other reproductive health coverage is quite adequate in the Dzongkhag. Malaria is one of the common diseases especially in the hotter areas during summer followed by typhoid. In the past there existed 103 safe drinking water schemes in the Dzongkhag. Priority is given to accord clean and safe drinking water for the people.
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