September 10, 2020
Agriculture
Sustainable Agriculture In Bhutan: How Hydroponics And Organic Farming Is The Future
Bhutan is arguably one of the few countries in the world where agriculture remains an integral and active part of Bhutanese culture to this day.
A large population in Bhutan makes their living through farming, and society, in general, is fond of nature.
Blessed with a varied range of climatic zones, a diverse array of cultivated foods can be produced.
Especially amidst challenges such as climate change, soil quality degradation, depleting water resources, and shrinking balanced habitats, it is remarkable to note that more than 60% of Bhutan’s land area is covered with forest.
It is the only carbon-negative country with such statistics.
The other areas include pasture, arable, and unproductive land.
Despite its agriculture-based economy and special focus on farming, the country has yet to achieve the goal of food self-sufficiency.
One-third of the population residing in rural areas lacks food security.
Chronic malnutrition and underweight children are major issues to be tackled.
At the same time, it is necessary to double agricultural productivity in the near future.
While the country is determined to achieve its vision of 100% organic farming, it has yet to chalk out a productive plan to boost the organic farming system.
There are several other challenges faced by the farming sector in Bhutan that warrant mention.
The migration of the population from rural to urban areas has caused entire farmlands to fallow.
There is an urgent need to educate and inspire young people to consider agriculture as a viable income source.
Special care must be taken by authorities to change the mindset and help them see a successful future in the farming sector.
Therefore, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive farming sector policy that maximizes sustainable farming practices and promotes education about the use of the latest biological solutions.
Since 2003, several strong measures at the government level have been initiated, including the National Framework for Organic Farming for Bhutan (NFOFB) and the National Organic Program (NOP).
Also, in 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF) ensured the development of an Organic Masterplan until 2023.
As per the reports, a new flagship program for the development of the organic sector between 2018 and 2023 has been developed by the MoAF as well.
The aim is to produce food sustainably without harming the environment, increase output to support trade opportunities, and conduct research and scientific studies to adopt new technologies and sustainable farming solutions.
Taking all factors into consideration, Bhutan needs to maintain its vision of organic and sustainable farming while also maximizing its agricultural productivity in the near future.
How can this be achieved?
This can be achieved by using innovative farming techniques, such as hydroponic farming, and utilizing chemical-free and natural plant growth promoters, which substantially improve crop yield.
The Agriculture Research and Development Center (ARDC) in Wengkhar, Mongar, in Bhutan, is using hydroponic farming.
Hydroponic farming can be defined as a process of growing plants without the use of soil.
A nutrient-rich water solution is used to supply everything the plants require for productivity.
Systems such as the hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and Deep Floating Technique (DFT) are used in hydroponic farming to grow various plant varieties.
In the NFT method, a pipeline supplies a water-based nutrient solution, whereas in the DFT system, the plant roots are placed in the nutrient solution for 15-20 centimeters at all times.
Some experts believe that hydroponic farming is the future of sustainable farming, as it is completely free from chemicals, plants grow faster, yields are increased, and the space required is reduced.
Hydroponic farming is indeed the go-to sustainable farming solution in unproductive lands.
For traditional soil-based farming, using a plant growth promoter is another great solution to boost plant productivity.
Organica Biotech is one of the leading companies with the aim of developing sustainable farming products and solutions.
In line with the vision, MagicGro Plus was developed, an eco-friendly plant growth vitaliser.
The powerful plant growth bacteria harness favorable nutrients in the soil.
The highlight of the product includes that it enhanced seed germination, fruiting, flowering rates, and ultimately yield.
It supports hydroponic farming as well.
Thus, Magic Gro Plus and hydroponic farming can help Bhutan’s farming sector double its crop yield and make the country food self-sufficient.
Organica Biotech’s natural products can also help to achieve Bhutan’s vision of organic and sustainable farming objectives.
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