More potatoes
While traveling to Haa today, I saw several farmers planting potatoes. Some were done. Others, like this couple in Jabana, were just beginning to prepare their field. But all of them expect a good crop – the rains came just in time.
Weather dependent
Yes! It snowed in Haa. And the land is now moist. So our farmers are working their fields in earnest, preparing them to plant potatoes. Before the recent snow and rain, our farmers could not plough their fields – the earth was too hard, and much of the dry top soil would have been lost in the wind anyway. If the dry weather had continued, our farmers would have virtually lost the potato season.So our farmers are happy. But their concerns are not over. It’s threatening to snow again. And if it does snow, and snows heavily, potato planting…
Weathering poverty
Well it didn’t snow last night. And it didn’t rain enough. But it’s still overcast. And I’m hopeful.Part of my excitement yesterday was because I was sure it would snow in my village, which, at about 2800 m, is higher than Thimphu. But it didn’t snow there either. The light drizzle was barely enough to “settle the dust” one uncle told me. He and his neighbours can’t begin to prepare their fields till enough water seeps into the parched earth.Throughout our country, most of our farmers are completely dependent on rain water. This makes farming unpredictable and unproductive. And…
Rhythm of the falling rain
It’s drizzling outside. I hope it rains. In fact I hope it snows. We need the precipitation.Our rivers have dwindled. And can barely turn the hydropower turbines that generate electricity – and revenue – for our country.But, more importantly, our farmers have not been able to cultivate their land. Without water, their land is parched and cannot be tilled; cannot be prepared to plant potatoes. If potatoes are not planted in time, the potato yield will be bad. And potatoes are the only source of money for many of our farmers.So I’m thoroughly enjoying the soft, percussive sound of…
Transforming our villages
I am delighted that the agriculture minister is traveling to our dzongkhags to discuss the 10th Plan and to identify viable products that our villagers can make (read Taking the 10th plan to the people). If villagers and local leaders are fully involved in the process and genuinely accept his idea, our agriculture minister could bring about a true and sustained transformation of our villages. Well done. The following article, reproduced from the PDP manifesto, talks about how the One Village One Product movement could transform villages in Bhutan: Ohita is a small village in Japan’s southernmost island of…