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| Ap Phuntsho Wangdi with his wife and house in the background |
While others of his kind want to wait before jumping into it, 56 years old farmer Phuntsho Wangdi of Sipsoo has already broken the ice of Community Participation in Coffee plantation. With inaugural plantation graced by Dasho Sherub Gyaltshen, Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, eleven seedlings were planted on the day itself.
“It is the likeliness of more income in future that enticed me straight into it,” Ap Phuntsho unveiled in an interview. The location of his land in proximity to the mass bean plantation by Samden group is also another bonus for him.
Samden Group has also rendered all supports to him. He was provided with free seedlings from the Nursery. He was also imparted with adequate training and practical on such plantations. It is also aimed at integrating and mainstreaming more farmers into coffee plantation. The model of the project to be implemented in Public-private Partnership calls for famers in the area to participate so that they can also benefit by generating more income.
“Land is not at fault since it can grow everything”
He cultivates all types of crops in his five-acre land including arecanut. “Land is not at fault since it can grow everything,” Ap Phuntsho said. “But the crop depredation by wildlife especially elephant is another thing that impedes,” he added. He hoped that coffee integration dwindle such damages to the crops.
Although only eleven seedlings have been planted on the first day, Ap Phuntsho committed to continue with coffee plantation in his five-acre land. He will propose for more seedlings and extend the plantation. “With labour at shortage, it is not easy to carryout huge plantation at one go. The plantation will be done phase-wise,” he clarified.
Led by Ap Phuntsho, it is expected that more farmers will come forward to plant beans in their private land and reap maximum benefits.
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