Gakiling Gewog has launched its first coffee plantation in Sektena, aiming to diversify crops and generate sustainable income, with 2,000 saplings planted by Gongdokha Unity Group. The group, consisting of school dropouts, is preparing to start coffee farming, with Dzongkhag providing ongoing support, including saplings, fencing, pest control, orchard management, and land processing. The group, consisting of school dropouts, is preparing to start coffee farming, with Dzongkhag providing ongoing support, including saplings, fencing, pest control, orchard management, and land processing. In other chiwogs, smaller-scale trial plantations are also being started.
Wider cultivation will be promoted with outside assistance or block grant funds if the current trial is successful. Involved farmers expressed conflicting but optimistic opinions. He took note of issues brought up in the early sessions, particularly those pertaining to support and pest control. Timing issues were mentioned by Purna Maya. Gakiling’s coffee plantation could serve as a model for Bhutan’s remote areas, promoting agricultural diversification, reducing economic risks, and creating sustainable income streams.