(September 2021-Present)
His Majesty the King has appointed Dasho Thinley Namgyel as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock on 8 September 2021.
Prior to the appointment, Dasho was serving as the Secretary of the Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC). He started his career in 1989 as a Trainee Officer under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. He worked for the Ministry of Finance between the years 1991-2004. He joined the GNHC in 2007 as a Chief Program Coordinator and later served as the GNHC Director. He was appointed the GNHC Secretary in 2016.
Dasho has a Bachelor degree in Commerce from the Sherubtse College and MBA from the University of Canberra.
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(August 2016 – 2021)
Dasho Rinzin Dorji is appointed as the new Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests. His Majesty The King conferred Trashi Khadar to him on 16 August 2016.
Prior to his current appointment, Dasho has served as the Director General for the Construction Development Board, Ministry of Works and Human Settlement. Dasho started his career as an Accountant at the Department of Industry in 1984. He also served as a Trainee Officer and Administrative Officer at the Department of Geology and Mines. Following this, he has served as a Regional Director for Trade and Industry Office in Gelephu and as Deputy Secretary for Ministry of Economic Affairs. Further, he was one of the Directors for Anti-Corruption Commission between 2007-2014.
Dasho has Bachelors degree from Punjab University, India and Masters degree in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, United States. He is from Bji, Haa.
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(May 2014 – July 2016)
Prior to his current appointment, Dasho Tenzin Dhendup has served as Officiating Secretary and Director General for the Department of Agriculture. Dasho started his career as Trainee Officer at Warm Water Fishery, Gelephu, Department of Livestock in 1981. He has Bachelors in Zoology from St. Edmunds College, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, India and M.Sc in Aquatic Biology from Auburn University, Alabama in the United States.His Majesty the King has appointed Dasho Tenzin Dhendup as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture & Forests on 23 May 2014.
Dasho Tenzin Dhendup retired in July 2016.
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(August 2007 – April 2014)
Born on 2nd May, 1954 in Mongar, he is married with two daughters and two sons. Dasho Sherub Gyaltshen, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Royal Government of Bhutan, has been appointed as Secretary since August 2007.
Mr. Gyaltshen started his career in the civil service as a Trainee Officer in 1978 and subsequently as the Project Manager for UNCDF, UNDP/FAO and Australian project on Horticulture (1981-1983). From 1984-1994, he served as the Program Manager of Agriculture Machinery Centre (AMC), Paro. As a Program Manager, he led the implementation and development framework of the farm mechanization program which is still being followed through by the AMC, Paro.
In his career spanning of 30 years, Mr. Gyaltshen has made valuable contributions in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests at various capacities. While, serving as Acting Director and subsequently as Director of Research and Extension from 1996-2001, he was extensively involved in institutionalizing research program in the RNR particularly in the creation of the four RNR Research Centres together with the Dzongkhag and extension program. From 2001-2003, he served as Managing Director of Food Corporation of Bhutan Limited.
Mr. Gyaltshen also served as Director of the Department of Agriculture. As a Director, he led the preparation and execution of the “Food Contingency Plan “with FCB as part of the relief measures during emergency security operations in the country in 2003. Realizing the huge scope of seed potato export, he also initiated and developed a marketing mechanism involving FCB and Druk Seed Corporation. Besides leading the Land Management campaign in 2005, he also took strong initiatives to build and establish grain silos (grain bank) in order to strengthen household food security. His initiatives, aptitudes and leadership qualities were rewarded when he was meritoriously promoted as Director General for Department of Agriculture in 2006 and as the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests in August, 2007.
Aside from his normal duties Mr. Gyaltshen had also held high profile positions as Chairman of Druk Seed Corporation and as a member to Board for Food Corporation of Bhutan, Bhutan Agro Industries Limited and Bhutan Finance Corporation Limited before his appointment as the Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Forests.
Apart from his present affiliations, Mr. Gyaltshen is also actively involved in a number of other government bodies. He is the Chairman of Board of Directors, Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Limited, Chairman of Board of Directors, Food Corporation of Bhutan Limited, Chairman of Bhutan Agro Industries Limited and of Druk Green Power Corporation, Vice Chair to Drug Regulatory Authority and member to National Land Commission of Bhutan and the Natural Resource Development Corporation Ltd. He is also a Board member representing Bhutan in ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal.
An Agriculture Engineer from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, India, Dasho Sherub also received professional training on Post Harvest Horticulture Technology (1983) from TDRI, London and Refrigeration Engineering & Post Harvest Technology course from CSIRO, Sydney, Australia (1980).
