Project Summary
Bhutan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. With 56.2% of the total population dependent on agriculture farming within cultivated agriculture land of 2.93% of the total geographical areas the poor farmers are the most affected sections in the society. The vulnerabilities are mainly due to reduction in crop yield in absence of water availability, gradual shift of insect prevalence, shift in vegetation and phenology, and an increase in temperature. The disease outbreak to agriculture crops has been very common in Bhutan.

Phangkhar geog is one of the eight geogs in Zhemgang Dzongkhag that falls within the SGP project areas in lower Manas Basin Landscape. Human-wildlife conflict is identified as major environmental challenge in the geogs. The other problems include citrus greening, spread of invasive alien species, degeneration, decline in cultivation of traditional crops, shortage of drinking and irrigation water and unsustainable collection of NWFPs.

Pongchula is one of the remotest villages in Phangkhar geog located at day long walk from the geog centre in Pantang. The village comprise of 41 households with total population of 476 people of which 243 are female. Though agriculture is major source of livelihood income, the people are highly dependent of Non Wood Forest Products for their subsistence income. To institutionalize the utilization and management of bamboo, the Pongchula Pemacholing Tsharzo Tshogpa was formed in 2015 with technical assistance from Dzongkhag Forestry Sector, Zhemgang and funding from Tourism Council of Bhutan. The objectives of the group formation were
? To uplift the poor people in the village through marketing and management of the products in sustainable basis
? To increase the income of the local communities from the sale of product on sustainable basis.
? To achieve self sufficiency through management and marketing of the NWFP product
? To create employment opportunities within the communities
The proposed project will help promote strong NTFP management institution and enhance alternative livelihood income for the highly marginalized farmers in the study area. The project will be implemented by the executive members of Pongchula Pemacholing Tsharzo Tshogpa with administrative support from geog administration, Phangkhar and technical support from Royal Manas National Park.
Project Objectives and Expected Results
The board objectives of the project are:
? To empower local communities in the protection, management and utilization right of cane and bamboo resources through sustainable approach.
? To increase cash income opportunity for uplifting the livelihood of Communities.
? To intensify agriculture and livestock production through improved technology and quality inputs
?
Description of Project Activities
Capacity building for local people
Advance training on bamboo crafting
The local communities of Pongchula got basic training on bamboo crafting through support from TCB and RLP Zhemgang after formation of the community organization in 2015. However, they need advance training to make souvenir items from bamboo and cane. The women group from the locality will be trained in bamboo crafting with resource person from Bjoka village.
Regional exchange program
Bamboo is one of the major resources that have boosted income of rural population in North East India. There is diversity of products made from the bamboo and canes by the tribal communities in the region that can be replicated by our farmers. We proposed to take selected farmers for study tour to North East regions to expose them to different bamboo arts and techniques.

Construction of training and weaving centre
The village being in the remote location there is no proper space to convene training or meetings. A training hall cum bamboo weaving centre will be constructed in the village using local materials and typical Kheng architecture. This is will serve as model house to preserve kheng culture in the face of first development and change of architecture.

Agriculture intensification
With minimum influence of advance technology and inorganic inputs till date, Pongchula can become one of the best villages to produce organic agriculture produce in Zhemgang Dzongkhag. One of the major causes of low income from the agriculture is due to poor inputs and labour intensive traditional farming system. Through this project support, the villager will be given better agriculture inputs such as high variety of seeds, training on improved technology and cost effective methods.


Supply of cash crop seedlings
The citrus has been one of the promising cash crops for local people till it was wiped off by citrus greening few years back. We propose to provide other cash crops such a cardamom, Avogadro and any other feasible crops recommended by the agriculture sectors.

Vegetable production
The village has high potential for the production of organic vegetable. However, the villagers are discouraged to go for mass vegetable production due to high incidence of crop raiding by wild animals. Thus project will support chain link fencing for home vegetable gardening to make them self sufficient for domestic consumptions. The high variety vegetable seeds will be supplied.

Post-harvest vegetable management
The project will provide improved technology to store off season vegetables. This will help farmers meet their vegetable requirement round the seasons.