Profile of Samdrup Jongkhar
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Fall 08 PROFILE OF SAMDRUP JONGKHAR PreparedPrepared by Linda by Pannozzo Linda Pannozzo, Karen Hayward, Tsering Om, Luke Raftis, Katherine Morales, Dahlia Colman,GPI Atlantic Kathleen Aikens, Alex Doukas, Michael Oddy, and Ronald Colman GPI AtlanticOctober 2011 February 2012 Funded by International Development Research Centre, Canada The Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag is situated in the southeastern part of Bhutan, sharing its western border with Pemagatshel Dzongkhag and northern border with Trashigang Dzongkhag. The Indian states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are in the south and east respectively. The dzongkhag has eleven gewogs: Martshalla, Pemathang, Phuntsothang, Samrang, Lauri, Serthi, Langchenphu, Gomdar, Wangphu, Orong and Dewathang. The dzongkhag has a population of 35,960 and a total of 7,453 households (2009). It has a total area of 1,878.79 sq. km with elevations ranging from 200 m to 3,600 m above sea level, with the majority of the land ranging from 600 m to 1,200 m. The flattest areas are in the south along the Assam border. A broad leaf subtropical evergreen forest covers roughly 85% of the land area. The soil type varies from sandy to clay loam, the latter which is suitable for agricultural production. Most of the gewogs are prone to landslides and soil erosion due to loose soil and heavy monsoon rains. Settlements tend to be located in the foothills where the soil is most fertile. Climate is subtropical with a maximum temperature of 35 °C dropping to cooler daytime temperatures of 16 °C from October to March, which is the dry season. The heaviest rainfall occurs between June and September. The average annual rainfall is 5,309.4 mm and the annual average humidity is 7%. Source: http://www.samdrupjongkhar.gov.bt/ Cover photo: Villagers from Orong Gewog gathered for a field research interview. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................ IX INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... XII PART ONE ................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. Food Security ................................................................................................ 2 1.1 Food security versus self-sufficiency ............................................................................. 4 1.2 Poverty rates ..................................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Obstacles to achieving food security in Samdrup Jongkhar .................................... 13 1.3.1 Insufficient water ......................................................................................................... 15 1.3.2 Storing and drying food................................................................................................ 19 1.3.3 Crop raiding by wild animals ...................................................................................... 22 1.3.4 Soil fertility and erosion ............................................................................................... 30 1.3.5 Build up of disease-pest pressure ................................................................................... 37 1.3.6 Rural – urban migration and labour shortages ............................................................. 42 1.3.7 Lack of labour-saving technologies ............................................................................... 48 1.3.8 Insufficient landholdings and barren landholdings ......................................................... 50 Chapter 2. Agricultural Diversity ................................................................................ 53 2.1 Benefits of biodiversity ................................................................................................. 53 2.2 Crop diversity in Samdrup Jongkhar ........................................................................... 61 2.2.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 61 2.2.2 Forgotten foods ............................................................................................................ 70 2.2.3 Non-wood forest products (NWFP) as food and medicinals ......................................... 73 2.2.4 Chemical use in Samdrup Jongkhar ............................................................................. 76 2.3 Agroecology: A holistic system of food production ................................................. 82 2.3.1 The myths of conventional agriculture ........................................................................... 82 2.3.2 And the organic alternative .......................................................................................... 86 2.3.3 Case study: The high yield Jersey cow ........................................................................... 88 2.3.4 Saving seeds ................................................................................................................ 91 2.3.5 Mixed farming, intercropping ...................................................................................... 93 2.3.6 Labour scarcity and organic farming costs .................................................................... 94 2.3.7 A healthy world diet .................................................................................................... 96 Chapter 3. Markets that Work for Farmers ................................................................ 98 3.1 Market constraints faced by S/J farmers and others .............................................. 106 3.1.1 Connecting buyers with farmers in Samdrup Jongkhar................................................ 110 3.2 Cooperatives and farmers’ groups ............................................................................. 113 3.2.1 Dewathang Milk Marketing Cooperative (DMMC) ................................................. 118 3.2.2 Cooperative model for weaving and handicrafts ........................................................... 121 3.3 Market potential for non-wood forest products (NWFP) ..................................... 123 3.3.1 Chirata ..................................................................................................................... 123 3.3.2 Rubia cordifolia ........................................................................................................ 125 3.3.3 Illicum griffithii (star-shaped anise) ............................................................................ 125 3.3.4 Agarwood ................................................................................................................. 126 3.4 Adding value to products ............................................................................................ 128 3.4.1 Solar drying fruits and vegetables ............................................................................... 129 iii Chapter 4. Living Standards and Wellbeing .............................................................. 132 4.1 Demographics ............................................................................................................... 136 4.2 Economic security and equity .................................................................................... 138 4.2.1 Poverty ...................................................................................................................... 139 4.2.2 Child poverty............................................................................................................. 146 4.2.3 Equity ...................................................................................................................... 147 4.2.4 Household debt ......................................................................................................... 151 4.2.5 Access to education: Walking distance to school ......................................................... 152 4.2.6 Literacy .................................................................................................................... 155 4.2.7 Employment ............................................................................................................. 158 4.2.8 Housing and sanitation ............................................................................................. 163 4.2.9 Types of dwellings ...................................................................................................... 165 4.3 Gross National Happiness (GNH) indicators ......................................................... 167 4.3.1 Psychological wellbeing ............................................................................................... 167 4.3.2 Quality of life ............................................................................................................ 169 4.3.3. Health ..................................................................................................................... 169 4.3.4 Time use and balance ................................................................................................ 169 4.3.5 Education and traditional knowledge ......................................................................... 171 4.3.6 Culture ..................................................................................................................... 172 4.3.7 Community vitality...................................................................................................