August 5, 2019

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) project is in full swing!

This phase brought together the enthusiastic Marangdut farming group to be trained on rice transplantation and bio pest management. The lead farmer from the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiatives (SJI) worked alongside the farming groups while educating them on the importance of close monitoring after transplantation.

SJI also emphasized the need for bio pest control to keep insects from damaging the paddies by leading step by step demonstrations on the processes to create organic pest control. Most importantly, unlike chemical fertilizer which affects human health and actually kills insects, this organic pest control drives away insects by its strong smell without any life being harmed.

In the upcoming third phase, the the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative and Marangdut farming group will do an assessment on the progress of the SRI method and share challenges faced in its mitigation.

The SRI method looks promising thanks to the training conducted by the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiatives. In this two-day training, we were intensively engaged in rice transplantation and bio pest management. We are excited to see how it would yield and hopeful to generate fruitful result.

We are fortunate to receive such impactful training which was first successfully piloted in Samdrup Jongkhar by SJI. Thank you Bhutan Foundation and SJI for your continuous support and for doing this. We appreciate it. Thank you.

Rinchen Jamtsho (25), Grade 10 Graduate, Marangdut Farming Group