Hon’ble Lyonpo Inaugurates Electric Fencing at Limbukha, Punakha

March 22^nd, 2015: His Excellency, Minister for Agriculture and Forests inaugurated the solar electric fencing at Limbukha village, which was financed by the National Plant Protection Center of Department of Agriculture. Dasho Dzongdag of Punakha Dzongkhag, Member of Parliament, Gups, village elders and Sector heads attended the opening ceremony.

 
Mr. Tashi Wangdi, Chief Agriculture Officer on behalf of the Dzongkhag Administration, Punakha welcomed His Excellency for making available and sparing his precious weekend for marking the day an important function. Mr. Tashi said that the electric fencing encompasses whole Limbukha community, which would safeguard 135.46 acres of wetland, 32.75 acres of dry land and 42.43 acres of fallow land from the wild animals. Mr. Tashi also highlighted that Limbukha village is one the potential agrarian villages among others in Punakha. Currently, there are seven farmers’ groups that are involved in agriculture, forestry and livestock products and businesses. He stated that Limbukha village has potential for production of organic food since the village is surrounded with dense oak forest making easy access to collect qualitative cattle beddings and leaf litters and said that villagers are hardworking and even the young educated are willing to take up agriculture activities. On the other hand, Mr. Tashi also has observed that it is only due to lack of proper water source that the farmers are struggling to irrigate their field and requested Dzongkhag for artificial water reservoir. 

In his inaugural address, His Excellency highlighted that it is important for the local communities to work together with the Ministry and that everyone must own up responsibility to bridge the gap. Lyonpo said that, the Limbu Geog was the first visit Geog he visited after he assumed the post of Minister for MoAF and that this is his second visit to inaugurate electric fencing together with the Limbukha farmers. Lyonpo said that many research and trials have been piloted to protect the agriculture crops, however electric fencing proved successful ways among others. Lyonpo also said that, the same project has been tried in southern Bhutan and found extremely effective. Hence this year onwards, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests is going to focus more on electric fencing and Lyonpo also shared that the Ministry is always looking forward to address the human wildlife conflicts. 
 

Lyonpo said that Bhutan is still dependent to Indian market and each one of us should put more effort to produce more and to be self-reliant. To a farmer, who pointed out it is difficult to irrigate their land when there is no rain; Lyonpo assured that MoAF would explore different solutions to solve the irrigation issue as well. He also shared that Limbukha farmers are hardworking and that he enjoyed the best potatoes and radish from Limbukha when he was a student in Lekithang High School. Besides Lyonpo also inspired the villagers to raise mushroom farms since the resources and billets are readily available within the village vicinity. Similarly, Lyonpo assured that MoAF would discharge technical assistance to help farmers in setting up of the project.

Compiled & Photographed by Mr. Tashi Dendup, Regional Forestry Office, Wangdue Forest Division