Dzongkhag-wise Inventory of Resources -Bhutan Eastern Region 15. Lhuentse 16. Mongar 17. Pemagatshel 18. Samdrup Jongkhar 19. Trashigang 20. Trashi Yangtse 140 Dzongkhag-wise Inventory of Resources -Bhutan 15 Lhuentse Lhuentse is one of the least developed Dzongkhags in the country. The area of Lhuentse is 2,888 sq. km. and population is 15,395 as per the 2005 census. The Dzongkhag has eight Gewogs, namely Gangzur, Jaray, Khoma, Kurtoe, Menbi, Metsho, Minjay and Tsenkhar with a total of 2,506 households. Apart from the Dzongkhag highway, the Dzongkhag lacks internal motor roads and most villages still remain remote and inaccessible. Majority of the households have no access to electricity. Difficult terrain and scattered settlements make delivery of services costly and challenging. Limited agriculture land and other farm infrastructure pose considerable problem in enhancing farm production and productivity. Despite favorable climatic conditions, farming remains largely subsistence. Figure 15.1 Lhuentse Dzongkhag 15.1 Basic Infrastructure a. Roads 1 Lhuentse Dzongkhag has the following road network and is connected with Mongar. S. No. Description Km 1 District Road 45.00 2 Feeder Road 32.00 Table 15.1 (a) Roads-2005 b. Distances 2 to other Dzongkhags S. No. From To Distance (Km.) 1 Lhuentse Thimphu 535 2 Lhuentse Trashiyangtse 197 3 Lhuentse Bumthang 268 4 Lhuentse Trashigang 166 5 Lhuentse Samdrup Jongkhar 346 6 Lhuentse Trongsa 336 7 Lhuentse Wangdue 465 8 Lhuentse Mongar 75 Table 15.1 (b) Distances to other Dzongkhags Source: 1Department of Roads, Ministry of Works & Human Settlement, Bhutan. 2Road Safety & Transport Authority, MoIC, Bhutan. 141 Dzongkhag-wise Inventory of Resources -Bhutan 1 c. Education Lhuentse has fairly good education coverage. S. No. Type of Schools Nos. (2006) 1 Community School 14 2 Primary School 8 3 Lower Secondary School 1 4 Middle Secondary School 1 5 Higher Secondary School 1 Table 15.1 (c) Type of Schools -2006 d. Health Facilities 2 Lhuentse has the following health facilities: S. No. Facilities Nos. (2005) 1 Hospital 1 2 BHU’s 11 3 ORC’s 33 Table 15.1 (d) Health Facilities -2005 e. Postal & Telecommunication With 128-line capacity exchange in the Dzongkhag, 116 connections have been provided to the households. f. Electricity Almost 34% of households have access to electricity. S. No. Detailed 2005 1 Gewogs Electrified 4 2 Villages Electrified 52 3 Households Electrified 795 Table 15.1 (e) Electricity -2005 g. Water Supply About 50% of the households have access to piped drinking water supply. h. Type of Land Following is the type of land use in Dzongkhags. S. No. Type of land Area in Acres (2005) 1 Wet land 3190 2 Dry land 7625 3 Tseri 887 Table 15.1 (f) Type of Land 15.2 Trade & Industry 3 The Dzongkhag accounts for a very small number of business licences. As of end 2005, it registered 162 retail trade licenses, 3 production and manufacturing licenses for cottage industries and 28 service licenses (2 for small and 26 for cottage scale). Lemon grass distillation has emerged as one of the main industrial activities. The Dzongkhag does not have identified industrial land nor any potential resource identified for major processing projects. However, with the availability of electricity now, the prospects for small scale agro processing units appear good. Source: 1 General Statistics 2006-Year Book, Department of School Education, Ministry of Education, Bhutan. 2Statistical & Planning Officers, Dzongkhag Administration-Lhuentse. 3 Industrial Licensing and Monitoring Division, Department of Industry, MoEA- Bhutan. 142 Dzongkhag-wise Inventory of Resources -Bhutan Available Resources: 15.3 Agriculture 1 Maize and paddy are two main crops grown in Lhuentse Dzongkhag. a. Crops Production (Production in MT) Crops S. No. Paddy Maize Wheat Mustard Bean Soya Bean Gewogs 1 Gangzur 380.43 739.24 210.98 00.00 31.84 00.00 2 Jaray 130.02 521.39 62.98 00.00 26.06 00.00 3 Khoma 353.67 519.07 00.00 00.00 30.90 36.23 4 Kurtoe 185.79 485.19 00.00 00.00 11.52 00.00 5 Menbi 425.44 470.37 00.00 00.00 4.56 59.94 6 Metsho 209.02 453.53 00.00 00.00 7.41 00.00 7 Minjay 363.13 554.84 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 8 Tsenkhar 349.00 989.18 90.62 72.44 6.07 115.64 Table 15.3 (a) Corps Production -2005 Analysis of Agricultural Produce It is seen that maize and paddy are grown quite abundantly in the Dzongkhag. While paddy might be sufficient only for local consumption, there is potential for collection centers and setting up of processing units for maize, as this is no more the staple food. 15.4 Horticulture 1 Vegetables and fruits are the main source of livelihood. In the Dzongkhag, potato, radish, chilly, cabbage and citrus are the major cash crops grown as shown below. a. Vegetables Production (Production in MT) Vegetables Green S. No Potato Radish Chilli Cabbage Gewogs Leaves 1 Gangzur 682.20 60.76 176.16 51.05 21.19 2 Jarey 98.16 101.79 104.77 83.33 17.20 3 Khoma 233.88 74.53 140.30 00.00 15.39 4 Metsho 218.75 273.71 352.07 00.00 85.24 5 Tsenkhar 121.20 12.07 108.11 7.98 7.50 Total production (MT) 1354.19 522.86 881.41 142.36 146.52 Table 15.4 Vegetables Production- 2005 b. Fruit Production (Production in MT) Fruits S. No Mandarin Peach Banana Gewogs 1 Khoma 42.27 23.82 18.61 2 Minjay 57.93 34.70 57.00 3 Tsenkhar 38.67 45.44 00.00 Total Production (MT) 138.87 103.96 75.61 Table 15.4 (b) Fruit Production -2005 Analysis of Horticulture Produce It is seen that potato, radish, chilli and cabbage are grown in substantial quantities in the warmer Gewogs of the Dzongkhag. Considering the population size of about 15,000, there is potential to market these vegetables to other Dzongkhags. Citrus (mandarin) and peach are the major fruits grown and potential exists for some citrus to be sold to other Dzongkhags/areas. Source: 1Agriculture Statistics-2005, Department of Agriculture, MoA & Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer, Dzongkhag Administration- Lhuentse. 143 Dzongkhag-wise Inventory of Resources -Bhutan 15.5 Wood 1 Timber demand & production potential are as given in the table below: Production Potential Difference Inside FMUs Out side FMUs Demand Available Log Total Existing Potential (Cubic Meter) 0 967 5729 6696 2493 4203 Table 15.5 Timber Demand & Production Potential (2005-2009) Analysis of the Wood Produce Considering small local demand, limited access to demand centres and lack of operating FMU, there is not much scope for setting up sizable wood based projects. However, small scale projects that cater to local demand could be a possibility. 15.6 Tourism 2 - Lhuentse Existing Potential 1. Attractions • Lhuentse Dzongkhag has around 50 main religious and • The Bangtsho ruins need to be historical places including the picturesque Lhundrup excavated, studied and promoted. Rinchentse Dzong. Mask dances are held in many of them. • Although used by local pilgrims, the While there are many old temples, an important attraction is trek route to Aja Ney via Phuning La Khini Lhakhang in Metsho Gewog, which is said to have needs to be developed, as it is easier been constructed at the same time as Kichu and Jampay th than the route from Yadi or Trashi Lhakhangs in the 7 century. Yangtse. • Khentangbi or Jigme Namgyel Ngagtshang, is the ancestral home of the Wangchuck dynasty. Many pilgrimage spots • The Rodong La trail already in use by associated with Guru Rinpoche and Terton Pemalingpa, tourists should be improved. including Khenpajong, the hidden place of Guru and Singye • Minjey, along with Tangmachu, forms Dzong could be of tourist interest. However, both places are the rice bowl of Lhuentse., Here out of bounds for foreigners for the time being. agricultural tourism can be promoted. • There are ancient ruins of the underground palace of the Bangtsho King in Tsenkhar Gewog. • Traditional pottery at Gangzur done by women without using the wheel, ethnic festivals like 'Priu' in Gangzur, 'Haa' in Metsho and 'Lhacham' in Khoma Gewogs are other places of interest. The weavers of Lhuentse are famous, especially for Kishutharas from Khoma and Kurtoe Gewogs. • Natural tourist attrction include the Tshokar and Tshona lakes above Singye Dzong, interesting trekking routes such as the Singye Dzong trek, the Aja Nye trek via Phuningla, the Rodongla trek via Khini Lhakhang; picnic spots and camping sites. • It has rich flora and fauna. Black Necked cranes arrive in Membi Gewog in the first Bhutanese month and can be seen in the paddy fields at Tangmachu. There are hot springs at Khenpajong . Source: 1Forestry Resources Development Division, Department of Forestry Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Bhutan. 2Tourism Resources Inventory of Bhutan, Volume I & II August 15, 2005 & Bhutan Land of the Thunder Dragon -2005, Department of Tourism. 144 Dzongkhag-wise Inventory of Resources -Bhutan 2. Lodging Facilities The only lodging facility is the Dzongkhag guesthouse. There are no Lhuentse has high potential for tourism tourist lodges at the moment. development. Good tourist hotels are required. Existing lodging and boarding facilities are not sufficient to develop the tourism potential of the dzongkhag. 3. Food Service Facilities There are only three restaurants in Lhuentse town and one bakery. 4. Transportation and Access There is no vehicle road access to Metsho, Jarey and Khoma Gewogs. Feeder roads to Metsho, Jarey and The road to Kurtoe is under construction. Many communities live more Khoma Gewogs. than a day's walk from the road head.