Organic Vegetables on Platter for Students
Come 2018 and students of Daga Central School in Dagana will get to consume various organic vegetables that are grown in their locality. The school management recently signed an agreement to procure vegetables from a Farmers group in Tseza Gewog.
Come 2018 and students of Daga Central School in Dagana will get to consume various organic vegetables that are grown in their locality. The school management recently signed an agreement to procure vegetables from a Farmers group in Tseza Gewog.
The Regional Agricultural Market and Corporative Office (RAMCO) in Gelegphu initiated the contract to reduce the import of vegetables so as to restrict outflow of money. This move will encourage farmers to take up mass organic vegetable farming. The Assistant Manager from RAMCO said that it is a win-win deal for both the school and farmers group.
Both parties also came to the consensus that the farmers group will supply vegetables to the school at a rate below the market price while the school will pay the maximum rate it can afford.
“The School could not do much as they had to abide by the school’s procurement rate while farmers are demanding for the market price. However the officials from the gewog and others have explained to them about the price,” said Phurba, Cup of Tseza Gewog.
The school staff said such initiatives will help students to have a more balanced diet.
“As a stipend, we get Nu. 1,000 per student, and from that, 600 is given to the FCB and the remaining 400 we spent on vegetables and eggs. Eggs are given thrice a week according to the three eggs policy,” said Sha Bahudur Tamang, the Mess In-charge of Daga Central School.
“We also have to provide meat and fruits to students. Looking at the situation, the price they demand is hefty for us. But we thought of giving them a bit higher to encourage them.”
The Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector will play a key role in providing seeds and technical support to the farmers to take up mass organic vegetable cultivation.
By Namgay Wangchuk (This article has been edited for the Bhutan Times)
This article first appeared on BBS.
