GEF Operational Focal PointRoyal Government of Bhutan

Sub-Regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points in Asia

Hanoi, VietnamMarch 10-12,2010

1. Project formulation: July to September 2004

2. Project effective from July 2007

3. Total fund of US$ 897,485

4. UNDAF: By 2012, national capacity for environment sustainability and disaster management strengthened.

5. CT: Conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems enhanced.

Project Brief

Crop Genetic ResourcesCrop Genetic Resources Livestock Genetic ResourcesLivestock Genetic Resources

Introduction of new varieties

Substitution by other crops

Change in food habitsMarket accessibility

& associated processing problems

Ban in shifting cultivation

Introduction of new breeds

Cross-breeding, inbreeding and an breeding policy

Reduction of grazing land

Availability of cheap cross-border livestock

Threats

4

- PAM/MAP approach to contribute to food security and rural livelihood

-Conservation in Genebanks-As genetic insurance

The Project Goal & Objectives

Goal

Objectives

Project Outputs

Project Commodities

Crops

Rice

Maize

Buckwheat

Barley

Legumes

Oil seeds

Millets.

.

Livestock

SiriYakEquinePigPoultry Sheep

Project Sites

Dzongkhag Site specific commoditiesHAA GAKILING

1.Buckwheat (Sweet & Bitter)2.Nublang3.Piggery 4.Poultry

SOMBEKHA1.Nublang2.Buckwheat (Sweet & Bitter)3.Mustard4.Piggery and poultry

BJI:Yak

CHUKHA GETENA:1.Pig2.Maize

METEKHA1.Buckwheat (Sweet & Bitter)2.Foxtail Millet

SAMTSE UGYENTSE1.Sheep2.poultry

DUMTOE1.Finger millet (kalo &Payli millet2.poultry and piggery and cattle

TSIRANG MENDELGANG1.Poultry 2.Rice

SEMJONG1.Legumes2.Maize3.Poultry

ZEMGANG BARDO1.Poultry 2.Piggery

NANGKHOR (Rice )1.Karma Tekpa, 2.Karpo 3.Korfokpa

Site Specific Commodities

Dzongkhag Site specific commoditiesZEMGANG BARDO

1.Poultry 2.Piggery

NANGKHOR (Rice )1.Karma Tekpa, 2.Karpo 3.Korfokpa

BUMTHANG TANG:1.Barley2.Horse3.Sheep

CHHOEKHOR1.Yak 2.Buckwheat (Sweet & Bitter)

TRASHIGANG

UZRONG:1.Pig, 2.Poultry (Yebja)

SHONGPHU1.Barley 2.Soya Beans 3.Mustard4.Siri

MERAK1.Yak2.Yutha

PEMAGATSHEL

DECHELING:1.Finger Millet 2.Foxtail Millet3.Pig, poultry – only monitoring.4.Local siri cattle

CHEMONG1.Pig, poultry- only monitoring.2.Local cattle: Siri

Site Specific Commodities

Major Achievements in past 2.5 yrs

Outcome 1: Documentation and characterization of indigenous genetic resources (including wild relatives) that supports conservation and development policy, prioritization of conservation efforts and the identification of opportunities for income generation.

Completed Baseline survey Two staff trained in handling of LN2 plant. LN2 plant commissioned for Animal Genebank Procured AnGR equipment including Straw printer, tank roller, Laptop and digital

camera to aid in documentation. Completed Poultry and siri characterisation in two sites. Swine characterization on-

going. Upgraded AnGR database using access database. 3000 doses of semen collected from poultry, ram, swine in total and processed for

conservation in AnGR Genebank. Crop Germplasm samples collected from Bumthang, Haa, Chukha, Punatsangchu

and Trashigang and being processed in the Genebank Published Animal Genetic Resources of Bhutan, Plant Genetic Resources of Bhutan,

Pterodophytes of Bhutan and Yak Products and Processing printed

Major Achievements in 2.5 yrs (cont’d)

Major Achievements in 2.5 yrsOutcome 2: Agricultural and livestock development agencies that are able to support farmers in conserving agrobiodiversity through provision of relevant and timely technical information.

Created awareness in all 18 sites (12 crops & 16 Livestock). Sent officials from various departments to1 week study visit to Thailand 11 Agriculture Extension Officers, 3 researchers 1 NBC staff attended ex-

country training on agro-biodiversity management. Awareness workshop conducted in all Gewogs under Bumthang Dzongkhag.

Trained 16 LEOS, 1 researcher and 1 NBC on agro-biodiversity management in Nepal

Major Achievements in 2.5 yrsOutcome 3: Increased value of traditional varieties and breeds to farmers through yield enhancement.

Supplied inputs on traditional varieties and breeds, including equipment, in all the project sites; Seed purification carried out for crops.

Improved management practices for crops and husbandry practices in AnGR being introduced to farmers.

Supplied inputs on traditional varieties and breeds

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT IN 2.5 YRS

Outcome 4: New and larger markets for products from traditional varieties and breeds.

Completed market assessment and analysis of indigenous agro-biodiversity and their products. Some recommendations being implemented in the field

Outcome 5: Increased capacity of farmers to access existing and emerging markets for agrobiodiversity products.

Formed Farmers’/Community groups and drafted by-laws in 4 targeted sites. Supplied inputs to enhance marketing of traditional products, and post harvest technologies. Initiated product development, diversification, packaging and generated market demand in

some sites. Eg. Indigenous Poultry eggs from Decheling, Chimung, Bepam, Semjong, Mendelgang and soybean products from Shongphu, Buckwheat from Bumthang (food security, income generation, farmers empowerment, employment & diversity maintenance etc.

Rural farmers

Income

Value addition and marketing

Outcome 5:Cont’d Linking traditional food to the market

and urban consumers New products from local crops

Gradual increase in the sale of the traditional food products

Urban consumers

Valued added local products

Products Developed from Buckwheat

Major Achievements in 2.5 yrs

Outcome 6: Adequate systemic capacity of the MoA to mainstream agrobiodiversity conservation into the attainment of food security and self-sufficiency.

Spread awareness on agro-biodiversity conservation among different sectors under MoA.

Strengthened awareness on mainstreaming agro-biodiversity conservation into plans and programs of various sectors under MoA through the national level RNR Conference.

Outcome 7: Increased sustainability of project impacts through monitoring, learning, adaptive feedback and evaluation, dissemination of lessons learned and awareness rising.

Conducted baseline survey in all 12 sites for crops and 16 sites for Livestock, together with awareness programs on the importance of agro-biodiversity conservation.

Held an Expo on traditional breed of livestock to raise awareness, promote conservation and maintain breed purity;

Made and aired a documentary program on agrobiodiversity conservation, on national television to raise awareness;

Held awareness workshop on agrobiodiversity at national and local levels.

Students took summer vacation project assignments on genebank. Conducted Biodiversity Seminar at the College of Natural Resources