30 September, Wangdue: Thirty-seven participants including youths from Wangdue, Punakha and Dagana attended an awareness training on e-RNR Crop Advisory at Bajo.
The crop advisory is a mobile app on farming, the first of its kind introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests in 2020. It is targeted for youths to help them take up farming for their livelihoods. It can be also used by urban dwellers to start kitchen gardens and other interested individuals.
Participants learnt to use the mobile app including the installation, registration, downloads and how to access the app features. Most of the youths were not aware about the app and its functions. They expressed that the training was timely as agriculture farming is picking up in the country amid the COVID19 pandemic situation.
Tek Bahadur Wakley, a tourist guide from Tshangkha, Dagana is one among many youths who have started farming because of the pandemic situation. “As I am new to farming, the app will help me to avail the proper technical guidance in growing vegetables. The management tips in the app is another informative feature for farmers,” he said.
Kinley Mo from Rubesa, Wangdue shared that she finds the crop calendar very useful as it is important to know the growing season for every farmer. She grows vegetables and fruits in her 8 acres of land.
According to Tshering Dem, a participant from Toebesa, Punakha, the training was useful with relevant farming information. “I will go back and share my knowledge with our villagers to ensure better farming practices,” she said.
Following the training, participants visited the ARDC-Bajo to explore and learn various farming technologies including biochar and hydroponic and management tips for fruit trees including dragon fruit, avocado, kiwi, loquat and mango.
To read more about the app, please visit http://www.moaf.gov.bt/youth-awareness-training-on-e-rnr-crop-advisory
-ICTD
