Back to news
11 May 2017 | Himalica

Joint Monitoring of Himalica Pilot Project in Tsirang, Bhutan

The Support to Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalaya (Himalica) project organized a joint monitoring visit (JMV) to Barshong Gewog of Tsirang district in Bhutan from 28 to 29 March 2017. The aim of the visit was to assess Himalica interventions on the field from the viewpoints of national, district and local level stakeholders from Bhutan and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) team, as well as receive their feedback for further improving the project’s effectiveness and sustainability. The visit focused on two main aspects of the project: 1) achievements at the output and outcome levels; and 2) sustainability issues.

1 min Read

70% Complete
Interaction with vegetable and goat farmers’ groups Photo credit: Tshering Samdrup/ICIMOD

During the visit, the joint monitoring team interacted with goat and vegetable value chain groups formed by Himalica and a few progressive farmers to learn about achievements, and the challenges facing the project. They also observed climate-smart technologies and practices used for making production systems more resilient such as low-cost polyhouses, water ponds, improved cattle and goat sheds, biodigesters, the improved Beetal goat breed, and the farm road introduced by Himalica.

The team learnt that the Himalica project in Bhutan has made good progress and achieved many tangible results within a short span of time. They also found that the aspiration of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) have been integrated into the project. They observed that Himalica has established a solid base for increasing the income potential of farmers through the commercialization of vegetable farming, collective marketing, and market linkages.

2
1. The monitoring team observing a poly pond for harvesting water for irrigation Photo credit: Tshering Samdrup/ICIMOD 2. A green polyhouse managed by a young progressive farmer and entrepreneur Photo credit: Tshering Samdrup/ICIMOD

The team also recommended areas for improvement such as enhancing the capacities of farmers (men and women) to use poly-houses for growing not only quality seedlings but also off-season vegetables, providing training on leadership and financial management to farmers’ groups, and building local capacities on springshed management. The team underscored the need to install more water harvesting ponds for irrigation; to engage the private sector proactively for local products development, branding, and marketing; and to strengthen market linkages through the implementation of necessary value chain upgrading strategies and coordination mechanisms involving farmers’ groups. The need to develop and disseminate key messages arising from the project to relevant stakeholders in Bhutan and beyond was also flagged.

The joint monitoring team comprised of Bhutanese representatives from the GNHC Secretariat, the Planning and Policy Division, the Agriculture Production Division, Regional Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives, Tsirang District Adminstration, Barshong Administration, Barshong communities, and the Himalica coordination teams based in Bhutan, and ICIMOD, Kathmandu.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related content

Continue exploring this topic

8 Jul 2021 News
MoU signed by Climate Analytics and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

On 7 July 2021 the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Climate Analytics have signed a Memorandum of ...

3 Jun 2016 Water
Kailash Sacred Landscape Initiative Addresses Water Worries Across the Region

‘We prefer to wait for water at the springs over attending meetings’, said a woman of Digtoli village, around 41 ...

24 Sep 2015 News
Bhutanese teachers become herb gardeners

To popularize the usefulness of commonly available and frequently used herbal ...

19 Feb 2015 News
HICAP’s Work on Gender Applauded at CRM Expert Working Group Meeting

The study focused on the multiple drivers of change impacting women in Nepal and ...

18 Aug 2020 News
Larger glaciers in the Hindu Kush are behaving like glaciers in the Karakorum

Findings from a recent study show that the larger glaciers in the Hindu Kush region of ...

9 May 2015 News
International efforts to identify post-quake hazards

In response to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain ...

Lessons Learnt from Training on Mapping and Monitoring Glaciers using RS and GIS at ICIMOD

The participants came from the National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), Bhutan; Karakoram International University (KIU), Pakistan; the Department ...