PROFILE OF SAMDRUP JONGKHAR APPENDICES Prepared by Linda Pannozzo, Cheku Dorji, Ugyen Choden, Dechen Zangmo, Karen Hayward, Tsering Om, Luke Raftis, Katherine Morales, Dahlia Colman, Kathleen Aikens, Alex Doukas, Michael Oddy, and Ronald Colman For The Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative GPI Atlantic June 2012 Funded by International Development Research Centre, Canada 1 Table of Contents APPENDIX 1: OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY RELATED TO FIELD RESEARCH ........ 3 APPENDIX 2: INTERVIEWS AND VILLAGE VISITS ― SAMDRUP JONGKHAR INITIATIVE RESEARCH ...................................................................................................................... 8 APPENDIX 3: DZONGSAR JAMYANG KHYENTSE RINPOCHE ― REMARKS TO THE SAMDRUP JONGKHAR INITIATIVE LAUNCH, DECEMBER 2010 ...................................... 14 APPENDIX 4: SAMDRUP JONGKHAR ISSUES BY CATEGORY AND REGION ..................... 17 APPENDIX 5: BACKGROUND INFORMATION BY GEWOG ............................................. 24 APPENDIX 6: ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION OF INDIA ― REPORT OF VISIT TO SAMDRUP JONGKHAR (UNEDITED, AS RECEIVED) ......................................................... 35 APPENDIX 7: BACKGROUND STATISTICAL MATERIAL PREPARED FOR PROFILE OF SAMDRUP JONGKHAR ..................................................................................................... 61 2 APPENDIX 1: Objectives and methodology related to field research 1. Objectives: The research dimension of the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative is seen as essential to the success of the initiative itself to provide a solid basis and ground for well-founded GNH- based regional development and to ensure its success over time. The evidence in this Profile of Samdrup Jongkhar is based on both quantitative data and qualitative field research. The former includes both published statistics from as wide range of sources as could be found and previously unpublished micro-data files on the region kindly provided to the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative by the National Statistics Bureau. Here we describe the qualitative field research. Qualitative research for this study consisted of (i) direct observation, (ii) in-depth interviews with villagers and farmers, shopkeepers, educators, basic health unit personnel, and elected village leaders and local officials, and (iii) group discussions. (i) Direct observation and recording: During village visits, the field researchers noted down their direct observations about visible characteristics such as housing quality, building materials used, how prosperous or poor the village appears, what crops are seen growing in nearby fields, and more. Also noted were observations about the terrain — how steep or flat the land is — and how far the village is from the nearest road head. These observations were noted so that comparisons could be made later about which villages, for example, seemed the poorest and perhaps in greatest need of development assistance and by contrast, which seemed more prosperous. (ii) In-depth interviews with villagers, farmers, etc.: Agriculture was the primary focus of questioning in the village visits. For example, questions were asked about what is currently grown both for personal consumption and for cash crops. Farmers were also asked about what used to grow well there – i.e. crops sown by their grandparents – which they do not grow any more, and why. Questions were asked about the challenges facing the farmers, such as water shortages, storage issues, human – wildlife conflict and crop damage, soil quality, erosion problems, insect or disease problems and for which crops, marketing issues, and transportation issues. Villagers were also asked about proportions of food lost due to wild animal raiding, inadequacy of storage, and pest/disease damage. Questions regarding how much of their dietary consumption was imported from India were intended to ascertain how self-sufficient Samdrup Jongkhar villagers already are in terms of food production. This line of questioning was related to a key SJI project goal of improving food self-sufficiency. Since Samdrup Jongkhar borders Assam, it was 3 particularly important to assess from both observation and questioning what is currently imported from India, and the approximate quantities. Farmers were also asked if they used chemicals on their crops (pesticides, fertilisers, weedicides, fungicides, etc.) or artificial fertilisers (i.e. urea) in the soil. Questions were also asked about seed sources and seed saving, and about the forms of animal rearing undertaken. Many of the questions were open-ended—simply designed to get farmers talking about key issues that cannot be anticipated and enabling researchers to collect information on important questions that they may not think to ask. Such open-ended questions included: “What do you like best about your village?” “What are the biggest challenges you face in your community / village?” “What challenges do you face in farming?” “Are your children interested in farming?” etc. Open-ended questions were often followed up more specifically by researchers asking if any of the following were problems in this area land or labour shortages, lack of training, low soil fertility, pests and diseases, wild animals, too much or too little rain, lack of marketing opportunities, etc. To lay the groundwork for exploration of economic diversification opportunities, researchers asked about existing skills and knowledge in the village such as local crafts, and they observed what local artisans produce. Villagers were asked about what craft skills or handicrafts were characteristic of their village and they were then asked to name local artisans who do particularly good work in weaving, bamboo, and other crafts. In order to identify potential eco-tourism opportunities, researchers also investigated ⎯ to the extent possible, given time, resource, and transportation constraints, which parts of the dzongkhag were particularly beautiful and where there might be opportunities for eco-tourism or trekking. Questions were also asked about the availability of educational facilities, how far children need to walk to school, and whether the local children are boarded elsewhere. Issues around rural-urban migration were also explored and, to the extent possible, young people were asked questions about how they feel about staying in their village, whether they plan to move and if so where, and whether they would stay in the area if there were decent economic opportunities. To the extent possible, field researchers tapped into traditional knowledge and some of the accumulated local wisdom and innovation present in the villages: What sources of wild biodiversity, such as forest products, vegetables, medicinal herbs, and other materials, used to be a source of livelihood, food, and usage.. In order to investigate what types of “forgotten foods” might be reintroduced, questions were also asked on crops traditionally grown but no longer prevalent. Questions were also asked with regard to the opportunities and challenges the villagers face in terms of improving rural livelihoods, and what their greatest perceived needs are. For example, are there untapped assets and talents on which the villagers can build, and 4 are there shortages of time, resources, or infrastructure that might be addressed through appropriate technology innovations? (iii) Group discussions: As many of the village visits attracted between 20 and 50 villagers from the surrounding area—resulting in a number of “group discussions”— researchers did not feel it necessary or particularly advantageous to organise “focus groups” in addition to these. 2. Study Area: The study area is the Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag and its eleven gewogs. Please see Appendix 2 for a complete list of the villages visited during the field research through the winter of 2010-11, as well as a list of interviews conducted with officials and village spokespeople who attended the SJI Launch in December 2010. 3. Methodology: Samdrup Jonghkar has a total of eleven gewogs: Dewathang, Orong, Gomdar, Wangphu, Martshala, Phuntshothang, Pemathang, Samrang, Lauri, Serthi, and Langchenphu. But these differ widely. On the one hand, for example, there is Dewathang Gewog— accessible by road from both India and from within Bhutan—and on the other hand there are have places like Lauri—with no road access and at least a two day journey by foot from the nearest road. Similarly, Serthi, Wangphu, and Samrang are between 4-5 hours walk from the nearest farm road. As such, it was not possible, given the time, transportation, and other logistical constraints (see Research Constraints below) for the researchers to visit all the gewogs in Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag. To the extent possible, given these constraints, representative villages were selected based on accessibility and consultations with local officials. Where it was not possible for the researchers to go to the villages, the research team took advantage of the presence of villagers from all eleven gewogs at the three-day SJI launch— held in December 2010 at the Chokyi Gyatso Insititute in Dewathang in order to conduct further interviews. All individual and village visit conversations and interviews were tape-recorded. Respondents were assured of complete confidentiality. Interviews were mostly conducted in Sharchop or Nepali, and sometimes in Dzongkha or English when talking with officials. Bhutanese translators were part of the research team and assisted with translation and transcriptions into English. 4. Research constraints: