India: Gungring Village achieves Model Organic Village Status with successful organic farming

New Delhi, India: Gungring village in Chhuzom Gewog in Sarpang is on the right track after five years of attempting to practise fully organic farming. The town was designated a Model Organic Village by the Department of Agriculture in 2018 to increase the quality of life for residents through crop diversification and income generation.

Farmers in the village of Gungring have only ever farmed for their own sustenance for many years. The farmers just started engaging in commercial organic farming in 2018 due to the department of agriculture’s engagement. Training, greenhouses, and an irrigation channel were given to the farmers.

A farmer’s cooperative with 45 members now cultivates about 50 acres of farmland. They cultivate various fruits and vegetables, including carrots, beans, potatoes, eggplant, and cabbage.

“We had no extra agricultural produce and no expertise in farming methods. Nonetheless, following the instruction provided by the agricultural officials, we began growing vegetables not only for our own consumption but also to feed the Gelephu market and the local schools. According to Goru Sanu Rai, a farmer in the hamlet, We are now committed to not only supplying locally of our gewogs but throughout the districts and the country.”

“We were able to provide to schools, staff, and Jigmeling Police Training Center in Gelephu during the summer after founding the group and beginning to work together,” another farmer, Bal Kumar Rai, adding, “We are also able to provide the district and the Thromde.”

“We cultivate a wide range of crops, including broccoli, cauliflower, and chillies. We can gain greatly from this. I sold chiles and made Nu 80,000 last year. But, prices for vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are poor, and the most money we have ever made is between Nu 10 and 15,000,” according to farmer Tula Ram Kaflay.

For improved crop yields, the farmers also create their organic fertiliser.

“We have started creating manure compost to use in our crops instead of the artificial fertiliser. We have been manufacturing local fertilisers from leftover vegetables, cow dung, and urine on the experts’ recommendations, said Goru Sanu Rai.

“We have been practising farming here in accordance with the research centre’s recommendations. When unsure, we consult other farmers and cooperate, said Tula Ram Ghalley.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock launched the idea of an organic model community in 2018 in an effort to make the nation entirely organic.

With funding from the Asian Food and Agricultural Cooperation Initiative, the idea was created in order to provide the groundwork for replication in other villages.