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By Dorji Bidha (Drukgyel Farmers) Farming Previously and Nowadays Some decades ago, farming life was not easy since our fields were more of a rocky and sandy soil, which is not favorable for cultivating crops. Therefore past generations went on day-long hikes with their horses to fetch top soils from the far-away mountain side. By evening they reached home and … Read More
Bhutan Network and Roswitha Huber (Schule am Berg), our OFEP partner in Rauris, are featured in the new book by Gaia Foundation: We Feed the World – a global photographic project – Gaia Foundation We Feed the World – The Book – Out Now! Celebrating the smallholder farmers and fisherfolk who really feed the world, this book is a beautiful … Read More
You did it! Ongmo has her hand-tractor and she is already helping neighbours. Thanks for your generosity! The new hand-tractor is a great relief for Ongmo. Without a hand-tractor work at her strawberry farm looks like this: In 2020 Ongmo, a young farmer from Tang valley in Bumthang, put her dreams into action and established a strawberry farm. The hand-tractor … Read More
By Dorji Bidha (Drukgyel Farmers) Every year Lomba, the New Year celebration in Paro and Haa, is observed from the 29th day of the 10th month until the 1st day of 11th month, following the lunar calendar. During Lomba it is considered auspicious that members of a household get together and enjoy the festivities. Therefore this Lomba I am with … Read More
by Tshering Wangmo “Ongmo”, Tang Farmers, Bumthang Exchange with Austrian colleagues Since participating in the training offered by the Organic Farmers Exchange Program (OFEP) in Austria, I have slightly changed my farming methods. I was interested in expanding my farm and food-processing business and for this I received support from Bhutan Network and additionally funds from Franzi, a generous Austrian … Read More
Young farmer Dorji Biidha from Drukgyel Farmers has many stories to tell. This time she shares her thoughts on how Bhutan Network, albeit a small association, has a positive impact on her village and other farming communities. My thoughts on Bhutan Network’s efforts to curb rural-to-urban migration in Bhutan By Dorji Bidha Rural-to-urban migration and goongtong (“empty household”), is becoming … Read More
by Dorji Bidha, Drukgyel Farmers In the month of February, I wake up early in the mornings to check if the temperature outside is favorable to sow rice seeds. However, believe it or not, my parents and grandmother study the sky. Farmers in my village can predict the weather by simply looking closely at the blue sky above. To me … Read More
By Dorji Bidha (Drukgyel Farmers), also published on Bhutan Homestay Until the 1980s people throughout Bhutan practiced a barter system. Following the introduction of our currency, the Ngultrum, in 1974 by the RMA (Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan), shops mushroomed even in remote parts of the country and villagers started shopping as though they were in Walmart. Nevertheless, aside from … Read More
by Dorji Bidha, our partner from Drukgyal Farmers in Paro. The Corona pandemic and community spread have now also reached Bhutan. The little kingdom is under lock down until further notice. Recently Bhutan Network sponsored a rice husking machine for Dorji Bidha’s community. In her letter to Bhutan Network, Dorji explains the situation and why she requested our support for … Read More
Ongmo (Tshering Wangmo) from Tang shares her latest news with us: “Strawberries grow very well here in Tang due to the generally favorable climatic conditions in Bumthang. Most farmers have apple orchards around their houses but strawberries are new to our locality. I felt inspired by the promising potential of strawberry cultivation and this season I decided to start planting … Read More