Project News

JICA launched "Temperate Fruit Crops Promotion Project" in the middle of March 2022, however, the project was able to start full-scale activities from May 2022 due to two weeks of isolation, medical check, application process for work permission, etc. The first step towards the success of project was eventually taken with "National Seed Center (NSC) Paro" (hereinafter "NSC Paro") and "National Center for Organic Agriculture (NCOA) Yusipang (hereinafter NCOA Yusipang,)" which are our new counterpart organizations.

Now, NCOA Yusipang has begun to improve exhibition garden of fruits trees and vegetables, and the initial stage of the work is expected to be completed by the end of June 2022. At the same time, project staff, which are the Japanese experts and counterpart officers, measured the soil acidity and fertility in the garden together, and practiced calculating the required amount of soil improvement materials such as organic materials and magnesium lime.

NSC Paro is implementing a planned expansion of mother tree orchard for the conservation of fruit varieties. The work began with the logging of the pine forest, which had occupied half of the garden. After logging, civil engineers of Agriculture Engineering Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, and those of National Soil Service Centre (NSSC) will design terracing field. Also, like NCOA Yusipang, NSC Paro practiced measuring soil acidity and fertility and calculating the amount of soil conditioner input.

We are not just working in the lab or office. It is also necessary to broaden the perspectives and think about what we can do by studying from advanced cases. With regard to these purpose, NSC Paro organized a study tour by Program Director, related staff and workers. Fortunately, "Integrated Horticulture Promotion Project in the West Central Region (IHPP)" in Agriculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC) in Bajo completed its five and a half years activities at the end of June 2022. The officers in ARDC Bajo were waiting for us with plenty of knowledge left as outcome of IHPP. What did the NSC Paro staff think of ARDC Bajo? And what did they feel when they witnessed new technologies such as how to improve orchard garden, how to utilize greenhouses, how to make organic materials like bokashi fertilizer, bio char, bamboo vinegar, and organic microbial materials? In fact, the next day after returning to Paro, participants in this study started discussions which technology could be incorporated into NSC Paro. To be honest, it was surprised that NSC Paro reacted so immediately, but the enthusiasm of the counterparts was definitely shown just after this tour.

Introducing farm land in ARDC Bajo

Making bokashi fertilizer

Introducing bio char production

Introducing how to make bamboo vinegar