Farmers in Bidung, Trashigang welcomes a new gewog agriculture officer with high expectations

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Former agriculture officer suspended for poor service
Bidung Gewog’s former Gup, Sonam Phuntsho claimed that the previous agriculture officer was initially suspended after receiving multiple accounts of complaints from disgruntled farmers. 
According to the farmers, the previous agriculture officer failed to address agriculture-related issues such as army worm infestation.
 “Later the former agriculture officer was replaced after receiving many counts of complaints from the farmers of Bidung gewog,” said the former gup.
“Recently, a new agriculture officer joined our gewog. And I sincerely hope that he will work tirelessly to solve the issues that our farmers have been trying to solve,” added Sonam Phuntsho.
Tshering Chozom, a 45-year-old farmer in Bidung claimed that it has been only a few months since the gewog received a new agriculture officer. She said, “I hope that the new agriculture officer helps us better than the previous one and also provides timely help when in need.”
With armyworms infesting almost all of their crops, farmers in Jalung village under Bidung gewog have been suffering for almost three years without proper aid from the gewog agriculture officer.
Tshering Chozom said, “It’s been three consecutive years, our crops particularly maize is affected by armyworms, resulting in a very low maize yield.”
She claimed that the gewog agriculture officer did not take any necessary measures to help the people. She said, “Farmers suffered immensely; both financially and crop insufficiency.”
The farmers, out of desperation approached the village Tshogpa (village representative) after which they were provided pesticide to combat armyworms.
“But, without a proper tool for spraying the pesticide, it turned out unsuccessful. Armyworms still destroyed our hard-grown maize after using the pesticide,” said the 45-year-old farmer. 
To add salt to the wound, the farmers also felt the pain of losing both the quality and quantity of their staple yield. “The drastic decrease in the quantity of our produce ultimately hampered our source of income,” added Tshering Chozom.
Before the army worms started infesting their cash crop, Tshering Chozom could sell around 30 kilogrammes (KG) of the maize grain. She could also store some quantities for self-consumption. 
Additionally, she also used the surplus yield as winter fodder for her cattle. “Maize is the primary source of nutrition for my cattle but since the cursed armyworm infestation, we also need to worry about animal feed,” said the farmer.
“I couldn’t sell maize for the last three years. If I do, my cattle will starve,” said Tshering Chozom.
However, farmers in Jaklung village in Bidung only wished that they could recultivate the maize. However, without proper assistance from the gewog agriculture officer, the farmers' efforts went down the drain.
Norki, another affected farmer said, “I replanted the maize last year, sadly it turned out to be a waste of energy and resources. The second plantation was also destroyed by the pests.”
Norki also shared how she had to exchange her rice produce for a few kilogrammes of maize with her neighbours.
Today, the farmers of Bidung are seen facing a maize shortage like never before. Many claimed that they felt discouragement, ultimately setting a poor example to the younger generations in the village.
Moreover, the pests also impacted vegetable production. 
Norki shared the hardships farmers like her face. Farming in nature is a laborious job requiring intensive labour and being physically exhaustive. 
But with such pests fast spreading and the responsible officials turning their back instead of fulfilling their responsibilities demotivates the farmers. 
“It shows that they lack accountability when the officials turn blind and deaf to farmers’ problems. It upsets me and makes me feel like our parents are working for nothing but failure,” said Tashi, a daughter of a humble farmer in Bidung.
However, with the new agriculture officer moving in, Bidung farmers dream of successful farming activity.
Bidung’s new agriculture officer, Pema Wangchuk claimed that he intends to help the people both with pest control and achieving financial stability gradually.
Pema Wangchuk said, “Firstly, Bidung farmers need to tackle human-wildlife conflicts. Gradually, we can move further toward pest management plans and programmes.”
The new agriculture officer claimed that he has informed National Plant Protection (NPP) regarding the urgent need for synthetic pesticides to tackle the current armyworm and other pests.
In addition, Pema Wangchuk has other ideas for assisting the farmers in Bidung Gewog. He said, “I intend to assist the farmers in marketing garlic as a winter cash crop. And also, assist them with the provision of hybrid seeds of Potatoes.”
With the arrival of a new agriculture officer in the gewog farmers of Bidung are hopeful for positive changes.