February 4, 2025 – His Excellency Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, along with his delegations, visited the National Centre for Organic Agriculture (NCOA) in Yusipang to observe the role of research, innovation, and technology in advancing sustainable agriculture in Bhutan. For over five decades, NCOA has played a pivotal role in promoting organic farming across the country. With FAO’s support, initiatives such as the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) and value chain studies for cardamom and ginger are strengthening resilience and sustainability in the sector.
As part of the visit, Dr. Qu Dongyu officially handed over quinoa production machinery to farmers from Eastern and Southern Dzongkhags, as well as to research centers, to support quinoa cultivation. This underscores Bhutan’s commitment to diversifying its agricultural sector and promoting climate-resilient crops, ensuring food and nutritional security in the country.
