Socio-economic Sustainability of Organic Farming in Bhutan: from the Perspective of Farmers Group in Thimphu, Chukha and Paro
Madan Gurung *
Faculty, Gedu College of Business Studies, Royal University of Bhutan, Bhutan.
Elangbam Haridev Singh
School of Business Management, St. Joseph University, Dimapur, Nagaland, India.
Nima Wangchuk
Faculty, Gedu College of Business Studies, Royal University of Bhutan, Bhutan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Farmers in Bhutan can grow varieties of crops and vegetables due to their geographical advantages. Bhutan is aspiring for clean food production. The National Framework for Organic Farming in Bhutan is the policy that takes care of organic farming in Bhutan. The Royal Government of Bhutan aims to convert the entire agricultural area to Organic Agriculture by 2020 to promote a substantial increase in productivity and farmers’ income while preserving the environment. The research attempted to highlight the socio-economic sustainability of organic farming through two key indicators: social and economic sustainability in the selected Dzongkhags of Thimphu, Paro and Chukha. These Dzongkhags have a large population and therefore, a large number of farmers. The farmers were practicing organic farming to some extent only with their limited knowledge. Organic farming is a recent concept and is very labour intensive. Organic farming requires great deal of knowledge.
Keywords: Bhutan, organic farming, rice, vegetable