Bhutan’s Ministry of Agriculture is investing Nu 15 million in the 13th Plan to revitalize the country’s agrifood exports, focusing on market diversification, removing trade barriers, and leveraging domestic markets. Gelephu Mindfulness City, a sustainable development hub, is expected to boost domestic demand for high-quality agrifood produce. The Agrifood Sector Strategy 2034 aims to transform Bhutan’s agricultural sector, encouraging agri-tech startups and regional eco-hubs. Bhutan faces obstacles to commercialisation in agriculture, including small production volumes, traditional farming practices, declining GDP, limited market access, export barriers, and labor shortages due to rural migration and an aging farm workforce.
Bhutan’s climate strategy includes agriculture, which contributed 14.5% of its greenhouse gas emissions in 2015. Mitigation measures include organic fertilisers, biogas production, and adaptation efforts. Exports are expanding to new markets, with trade negotiations underway. The Ministry is prioritizing high-value crops and livestock products, updating regulatory frameworks, investing in infrastructure, and encouraging private sector engagement through land leases, foreign direct investment, and vertical farms.