Zhemgang Dzongkhag is often considered as least developed Dzongkhag nationally owing to topographical location which is conventional by absence of development infrastructure such as road and electricity which has not penetrated the most of the villages until today. The Dzongkhag still tops the rank on least developed district and poverty prevalent region among others in the country. On the other hand region is blessed with incredibly rich biodiversity. Its lush forests are home to 22 endangered animal species including the Golden Langur which is endemic to central region of our country. Though much of the district has warm and humid climatic conditions, its northern regions have moderately cool temperatures (Source: Tourism Council of Bhutan).
National poverty rate for the Dzongkhag still stand high where the poverty rates are above national average of 12% (Source: National Statistical Baurue, 2015). Most of the rural community within the Zhemgang face serious poverty issue which are conferred to insufficient cultivation land, large family size, tradition of drinking habits among khengpas and of all the predation of crops by wild animals has led to subject of poverty in the region.
Buli village, Nangkhor gewog, Zhemgang Dzongkhag lies at an altitude of 1670 masl (RSPN, 2015) is 3 hours? drive from nearest Zhemgang town and is home to 95 household of ethnic khengpas more popularly known as Bulipas. The village is popular for few national and international visitor visiting to sacred Buli Tsho (lake) which is 30 minutes? walk from the village engulfed in dense jungle which is considered as the protecting deity of the village. Village has large area of wetlands both natural and man-made and rich watershed area.
Buli is often considered as village of wealth among other villages in Zhemgang Dzongkhag added by factors such as exquisite landscape of the village and most importantly the fertile agriculture land owned by Bulipas, also village harbors rich cultural heritage. Vegetable, potato, paddy, millet, mustard and maize are the most abundantly grown agriculture products in Buli and almost all farmers practice subsistent based organic agriculture. Although the agriculture is seen promising in the community of the 95 household nonetheless most of the household face serious relation to poverty which is for almost six month in a year (RSPN Socio-Economic Survey, 2015) which can be attributed to factors such as wildlife damage over crops, insufficient farmland, traditional habit of drinking alcohol among khengpas and etc.
Buli Soenam Nyamsung Tshogpa (BSNT)a corporative registered under Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives under Ministry of Agriculture and Forest (MoAF) aspires to further undertake the project on Organic agriculture on selected crops to support the concept of organic farming and work towards bringing positive changes in the livelihood of their family and community at large. The cooperative consist of 28 members, out of which, 27 are women members.
BSNT with funding support from GEF Small Grants Programme aims at increasing organic vegetable production which is economically viable through mass cultivation in group. The group members through capacity building trainings and members involving in awareness program on use of organic fertilizer, will commit to stand as model cooperative to rest. The group will eventually work towards growing crops of economic value such as ginger, turmeric, potato and mushroom production and also involve in product diversification such as tomato pickle production.

In addition to this the group will work towards pilot initiative to safeguard vulnerable seed biodiversity and this can be achieve through documenting seed through Community Seed Bank (CSB). The group with technical support from NBC and Dzongkhag intends to setup community seed bank exhibition room. The space for seed bank will be open at extension office through which community seed banks can help farmers to access seeds to grow crops during the next planting season or they can be used as an emergency seed supply when their crops are damaged and destroyed, for example, due to natural disasters.