Bhutan

Salamjee Sustainable Land Management Project

·     Intervention has ensured better and sustainable livelihood of the community. The once erosion and landslide prone farmland with low productivity have improved drastically both in terms of fertility, productivity and vegetative cover.

·     Apart from rehabilitation of degraded farmland through adoption of scientific and sustainable land management techniques and tools, the community members were introduced to new agricultural, horticultural and animal husbandry technologies and practices as part of enhancing their income generating capacity ensuring better and sustainable livelihoods of the community. A total of 2736 citrus seedlings were planted by 18 households out of which 1969 numbers of plants were successfully grafted by the communities within 2 years of the project time. They have also planted 750 mango, 240 banana, 300 other fruit trees, 50 bamboo plants and 1500 nos. of Multi-purpose Tree Species (MPT) in and around the village during the project period.

·     Some other notable outcomes or project works completed include: diversion channel of 250 meters; community forestry plantation in 1 ha land; handing over of 120 acres of government reserved forest to the community; construction of community meeting hall; creation of group savings (the group savings has reached Nu. 30000 in June, 2008; and farmers have picked up vegetable production on semi-commercial scale since the inception of the project.

·     The sustainable land management practices coupled with better agricultural knowledge, technical know-how and enhanced local capacity to deal appropriately with such issues henceforth have strengthened their livelihood resilience by manifold. Better socio-economic and environmental conditions will serve as a solid foundation for community happiness and will go a long way in contributing to the national goal of achieving Gross National Happiness.

7. Who were the Partners and what were their roles?

i.     UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme: Main donor agency

·     Contributed Nu. 963720 (US$ 21356) comprising 46% of the total project input.

·     Involved in monitoring and evaluation of project activities.

ii.     RNR RC, Bajo- The lead implementing Agency

·     Involved right from the programme formulation and design to implementation, monitoring and evaluation and coordination of programme activities.

·     Contribution is mainly in the form of technical inputs which includes technical backstopping, technological inputs, and facilitation of the project process. The combined value of this support was estimated at Nu. 30900 (US$ 6866) constituting 15.7 percent of the total input outlay.

·     Community-based Natural Resources Management Project (CBNRM) based at RNR RC, Bajo has contributed Nu. 23800 in form of financial resources.

·     The overall contribution in the form of technical support and administrative cost involved is expected to be much higher.

iii.     District Agriculture, Livestock and Forestry Sectors, Dzongkhag Administration, Dagana: Other implementing partners

·     Involved right from the programme formulation and design to implementation, monitoring and evaluation and coordinating of programme activities.

·     The direct cost contribution of Dagana Dzongkhag is valued at Nu.20000.

·     The overall contribution in the form of technical support and administrative cost involved is expected to be much higher.

iv.     Geog(block) Administration: Facilitation

·     Provided administrative support to the project

v.     Farmers: Main Beneficiary

·     Contributed labour in implementing various sustainable land management activities in their village. The contribution is estimated at Nu. 790500 (US$ 17566) is mostly in kind.