Recommendations

The 'Small Farmer and the Food System in Bhutan' report by Ministry of Agriculture (Sonam Tobgay) has identified the main recommendations as follows:

1. Land reforms to address the limitations on arable acreage.

2. Review conservation policy of 72 percent forest cover versus scarcity of suitable land for agriculture.

3. Policy support in

        • addressing small and marginal farmer needs.

        • small farmer integration into main stream development.

        • preferential subsidies towards small and marginal farmers.

        • increased public investment in farm infrastructure like roads, etc.

        • market research and infrastructure.

        • tax exemptions on lower income brackets.

4. Farmers Cooperatives

5. Strengthening existing micro credit schemes

6. Introduce appropriate technologies in tune with the agro-ecological zones