After a fulfilling eighteen-year tenure in public service, I found myself yearning for change—one that would let me continue to impact my community positively while forging a more profound connection with nature. Driven by a vision of sustainable living, I was compelled to take up farming, a vocation that promised to let me care for the land and provide sustenance for my family and neighbours through dedicated labour of love!
My public service experience was richly rewarding, marked by complex policy-making and addressing a diverse population's conservation-related needs. However, I increasingly craved a tangible, nurturing way to contribute. I saw farming as a seamless continuation of my work, an arena where I could apply my expertise in management and community engagement to the stewardship of land and resources.
Concerns about food security, environmental health, and a personal commitment to local produce deepened my resolve to farm. I realised that both public service and agriculture share a dedication to community well-being. Agriculture allowed me to become a living example of the values I hold: self-sufficiency, ecological integrity, and sustainability.
The simple beauty of rural life, the satisfaction of manual labour, and the profound cycle of planning and reaping struck a chord with me. Transitioning to farming thus represented a conscious choice for a simpler, more rooted existence in tune with life's essential rhythms.
As I embark on this journey, the principles ingrained in me during my public service years— community solidarity, the value of hard work, and shared societal visions—inform my approach to creating a verdant future for Bhutan.
With the goal to foster and promote sustainable farming practices by venturing into agri-preneurship, I started the Happiness Farms in Paro (Farm 1) and Punakha (Farm 2). At Happiness Farm 1, we specialise in cultivating sought-after fruits like Japanese pears, apples, and walnuts, all of which have found a favourable market. We are meticulous about our crop quality and yields. Happiness Farm 2 expands our repertoire to avocados, premium oranges, lemons, pineapples, and dragon fruit, diversifying our produce to meet market demands and bolster our agricultural resilience. We continue to explore new fruit varieties to enrich our selection further.
In addition, we offer retreat facilities including accommodation in our traditional cottage-style quarters along with activities such as guided farm tours, fruit plucking and outdoor recreation. We also have an on-site farm-to-table restaurant, where ingredients are sourced directly from our fields and gardens. We introduced the first-of-its-kind ‘Tree Membership’ programme, where individuals can own fruit trees and enjoy their harvest for a specified duration.
Encouraging Bhutan's youth to embrace farming necessitates overcoming complex challenges and aligning with their dynamic aspirations. Efforts to integrate modern technology, foster entrepreneurship, enhance education, promote sustainable practices, facilitate access to land, develop marketing strategies, and create supportive systems are vital for portraying agriculture as an abrasive career path.
Agriculture and rural communities are instrumental in achieving Bhutan's goal of becoming a developed economy by 2034, driving economic growth, ensuring food security, and preserving the environment.
As Bhutan strides into the 21st century, the nation's agricultural landscape faces an era of transformative change. This shift is powered by the rapid advancement of technology, evolving consumer demands, and a heightened emphasis on sustainable practices. For the agricultural sector, these changes herald a time of significant opportunity and challenge, redefining the way business is conducted within the industry.
The government's role in this transition is critical. By focusing on strategic areas and supporting the agricultural sector's foundational participants, the government can catalyse industry growth and ensure its long-term success, benefiting both farmers and the national economy. To this end, the government can implement several key strategies:
1. Providing monetary assistance with grants, low-interest loans and subsidies, especially to those with small-scale operations, to enable farmers to invest in modern technology and eco-friendly farming methods.
2. Funding innovation and research to discover new farming techniques, crop varieties, and animal breeds that are more productive and climate-resilient.
3. Developing infrastructure such as roads, irrigation systems, and storage facilities to improve market access and reduce post-harvest losses.
4. Offering education and skills training to prepare farmers for modern, sustainable farming practices and marketing.
5. Improving market access by developing efficient supply chains, offering market information, and assisting with export opportunities to broaden farmers' customer base and income.
6. Promoting sustainable methods like organic farming and agroforestry to preserve the environment and ensure long-term food security.
Addressing policy challenges is also crucial for the advancement of Bhutanese agriculture. Farmers currently contend with issues such as land fragmentation, which impedes effective land management and investment; human-wildlife conflicts, limited access to finance, which restricts the ability to improve farming operations; poor infrastructure and market access, leading to high transportation costs and limited selling opportunities; and climate and environmental challenges that threaten crop yields and productivity.
Empowering farmers is pivotal to overcoming these challenges. Education, training, and access to information can equip them with the skills needed to adopt modern farming practices, enhance crop yields, and diversify their products. This empowerment is essential for the sector's growth and the community's prosperity.
The changing agricultural landscape in Bhutan is opening new avenues for agribusiness and entrepreneurship. The rise of organic farming, agro-tourism, and value-added products offers innovative business opportunities within the sector. Entrepreneurs are now exploring diverse ways to enhance the value of agricultural produce, from farm-to-table initiatives to eco-friendly processing units catering to changing consumer preferences.
E-commerce and digital marketplaces are revolutionising the supply chain by connecting farmers directly with consumers. This digital shift provides farmers access to fairer markets and allows consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.
Amidst innovation and change, preserving Bhutan's traditional agricultural practices and indigenous knowledge remains essential. Protecting the cultural and environmental heritage that defines Bhutan's agricultural identity is as crucial as adopting new methods.
As Bhutan navigates this new agricultural era, collaboration, innovation, and sustainability will be the new pillars of success. By fostering an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship, empowers farmers, integrates technology, and retains traditional wisdom, Bhutan will chart a course toward a vibrant and resilient agricultural future.
In conclusion, the evolving Bhutanese agricultural sector offers abundant possibilities for growth, innovation, and sustainability. By welcoming change, nurturing entrepreneurial spirit, and harnessing technology, Bhutan's agriculture can flourish in the modern age, contributing to national prosperity and honouring its rich agricultural legacy. The time to initiate these transformative steps is now to ensure readiness for 21st-century transformation.
