Nubi overwhelming cooperative set successful meeting

Social Entrepreneurship to Local Community to boost economy

BAOWE was part of a team led by Kinley Tshering, Director, Department of Agriculture along with MAP Specialist, and various Government agencies attending a meeting with the farmers of Nubi Gewog under Trongsa Dzongkhag.

The CFC was built with funding from ICIMOD at a cost about Nu 6.5 million which included the purchase of the machines. It could not be handed over to the people until 2015 because there were some problems with the contractor.

BAOWE took over the CFC in 2015 from the agriculture department and then handed it over to local entrepreneur, Kabab Organic Farm.

The Common Facility Centre (FCF) at Bjizam in Trongsa is now expected to be able to generate profit. This gives hope to members of Nubi Menjong Nyamley Tshogpa. There are 145 members in the cooperative. The CFC has a grinder, distiller and dryers.

BAOWE with assistance from Asian Development Bank under its Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction Project has been working alongside the farmers of Nubi for the last couple of years. In celebrating the first Birth Anniversary of HRH the Gyalsey on the 5^th  February, BAOWE had
introduced three products viz. BAOWE_Pelzhing (Micro Finance Institution ), BAOWE_Pure: food beverages herbs & dyes, and Fairshare_Bhutan: registered mark ensuring fair share to primary producers.

Kuenga Dhendup, a young entrepreneur of Kabab Organic Farm, who is operating the CFC on contract has put in enormous effort to make a success of the community center processing oils, chilly etc and buying the crops from the local shop farmers is hopeful that he will be able to make a profit hereafter.

Kuenga said that he was not able to perform well since his products are new in the market and did not sell well. He had to charge higher prices for his products because of higher costs of production.

He cited an example of Zangthozyllum oil extraction. He said the raw materials were old and produced less oil then. The oil had to be sold at a higher price to the Department of Traditional Medicines Services (DTMS).

Now he extracts oil from newly harvested Zangthozyllum which gives a better oil yield. “I have reduced the price for the oil and have put up a note sheet to DTMS. I am hopeful that they accept it.”

During the meeting, BAOWE introduced under BAOWE :PURE Anti -Cellulite massage oil developed by Department of Traditional Medicine & Services using local produce as its raw material .

He also said Palden Enterprise Ltd has started developing products using Zangthozyllum oil. “I also plan to come up with my own products if I receive the necessary training opportunities,” he said.

Kuenga said the other reason why he could not perform well was because production at the CFC is seasonal. The CFC remains idle at this time of the year since raw materials are unavailable. He is thinking of starting a shop at the centre. He also agreed to deposit a rent of Nu 36,000 a year to the cooperative hereafter.

MAP Specialist with the research development centre at Yusupang, Tshitila, said they would continue to supply seeds of the medicinal plants to those who are interested to grow. “We have also trained the people in the past on how to grow these plants,” he said.

One of the tshogpas, Namgay Lhendup, said the cooperative has no ability to operate the CFC by their own. That’s why it was contracted out to Kabab Organic Farm.

The Nubi Menjong Nyamley Tshogpa also requested for seed money, which was supposed to have been received a long time back. “We could use this money to repair the centre when needed,” he said.

Agriculture department’s director, Kinley Tshering, said she would follow up with the ministry on the seed money. “I will confirm with you soon,” she said.

The CFC was constructed in 2013 under a project named ‘Herbs and medicinal plants’ and people started growing medicinal herbs and plants since then. They were expected to bring their products to the CFC for processing.

Meanwhile, the founder and CEO of BAOWE, Damchae Dem, said as BAOWE is a not for profit organization I made a commitment on behalf of my pvt Company, Pelden Enterprise ltd. ‘‘I pray our maiden product under BAOWE_PURE is a success and will be the first of many more, and pray our farmers through these products will earn and become economically empowered to marginalize sections of society’’, she added.

The overwhelming turnout of over 145 farmers mostly women set the pace for an often boisterous, but successful meeting.

Lobzang Dorji