INDICATOR CODE: T4
SIMPLIFIED NAME OF INDICATOR: Area (in acres) under Organic Agriculture is increasing.
TYPE OF INDICATOR: Output
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION: Area (in acres) under Organic Agriculture.
RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR:
Organic Agriculture (OA) follows key principles of conserving ecology and promote sustainable farming technologies. In the light of climate change, OA has proven to be more resilient and better suited to small holder farmers around the world. Organic agriculture technologies follow sound science based principles and depend minimally on exterrnal inputs. It has been proven that OA has greater potential for carbon sequestration by way of nutrient cycling through increased incorporation of organic matter in the soil in the form of compost, farmyard manure (FYM) and bio-fertilizers. Effecient use of organic biomass through composts and FYM would significantly contribute towards reduction of the green house gas emission into the atmosphere.
Organic farming unlike conventional agriculture is less energy intensive in terms of fossil-fuel consumption and reduce carbon foot-print, both in terms of food production and marketing. It has been proven that OA out-perform conventional agriculture in long spells drought and climate extreme periods achieved through enhanced soil organic amendments and use of locally suited technologies such as seeds, bio-control agents and local beneficial microbes.
In line with the vision of the government to promote sustainable agricultural system, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF) envisions to promote organic agriculture as a mainstream farming system in the potential areas of the country. The use of chemical inputs (fertilizers and pesticides) is very much limited to certain pockets of the country. Thereby indicating that most cultivated areas around the country is organic by default, further there is more virgin forest areas used for collection of Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) which qualify as an organic production area.
In order to meet the vision of the RGoB, MoAF and in pursuant to Economic Development Policy (EDP) of Bhutan commenced in 2010, and in light of huge advantages of organic agriculture towards climate change adversities over conventional agriculture, there is certainly a strong need to increase the area (acres) under Organic Agriculture in Bhutan by expanding the existing organic agricultural land and converting some of the conventional agricultural fields to organic. Increased area (acres) under OA means increased agricultural land protected against the harmful impacts of climate change. Therefore, in accord to the afforementioned stands, the target of increasing the area (acres) under organic cultivation is highly justifiable.
INDICATOR HISTORICAL TRENDS AND FUTURE PROJECTIONS:
|
Historical Performance Achievement (before start-up of 11th Five Year Plan (FYP)
|
Projections for indicators under 11th FYP
|
Calendar Year
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
GCCA Year
|
|
|
|
|
|
40627*
|
40637
|
40667
|
40697
|
40727
|
55560**
|
Actual achieved
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The cost per acre is Nu. 10,000 with a total area increase of 100 acres (Organic asparagus cultivation is excluded).
*Baseline Area in acres
**11 FYP target area.
ANALYSIS OF INDICATOR BEHAVIOUR:
The target of increasing the land area (acres) under organic agriculture in Bhutan is in line with the long term mission and vision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF), Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) to make organic agriculture as an integral farming system in the country. The Economic Development Policy (EDP) of Bhutan, which started in 2010, also directs the Government to promote organic agriculture and develop Bhutan as an organic brand. Upon the declaration of the former Prime Minister, His Excellency Jigme Y. Thinley to mainstream organic agriculture in Bhutan at an international conference, couple of years ago, has caught the interest in Bhutanese people for organic agriculture and the area under the same has been gradually increasing over the years. For instance the demand for organic asparagus cultivation was in 6.2 acres in 2010-11, this increased to 32.09 and 95.80 acres in 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively. Over these years there was a total organic asparagus cultivation acerage of 134 acres.
Studies indicate that organic agriculture has many advantages over the conventional agricultural practices towards the adversities of climate change. The carbon sequestration, flood control, reduction in carbon foot print, higher yield in times of drought are some of the indicators of Organic Agriculture that are suitable to sustain with respect to the current climate change aspects.Therefore, increase in area under organic agriculture would entail on more area protected against the harmful impacts of the current climate change scenerio. Owing to such objectives the increase in area (acres) under organic agriculture in Bhutan is highly pertinent. The indicator (acerage) is highly suitable.
OTHER RELATED INDICATORS: Increase in Organic Crop productions in MT/year.
INSTITUTION RESPONSIBLE FOR INDICATOR OVERSIGHT:
Department of Agriculture (DoA), Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF).
KEY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR INDICATOR MANAGEMENT:
Norden Lepcha, Sr. Agriculture Officer, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests.
Phone number: 17378387
E-mail address: nlepcha1@gmail.com
METHODOLOGY FOR INDICATOR MANAGEMENT:
Stage in Data Management
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Description
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Data type selection (what is data to be collected and its level of aggregation)
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Primary data needed for this indicator is the total acreage of land (acres) under organic agriculture.
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Data sources (what is the collection instrument)
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The annual progress report submitted by the Dzongkhags shall serve as the data source.
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Data collection (who is responsible for collecting)
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Dzongkhag Agricultural Officer (DAO) and his staff collect data as required to up-date the progress report. Geog level staff also provides information.
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Data processing (who carries out data entry and data processing and how)
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Data are compiled by the National Organic Program (NOP) in Excel spreadsheets.
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Data presentation (how)
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Data are provided to users as simple printouts/soft copies.
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Data reporting (by whom to whom)
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Data are sent to the National Organic Program, DoA, at Thimphu and as requested by the focal person.
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Inputs required for data management (when and by whom)
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The concerned geog staff shall collect the primary data and submit to the Assistant DAO who is also the official data manager at the Dzongkhag level. The ADAO shall then prepare into the prescribed excel sheets for onward submission to the National Organic Program.
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Cost of verification
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Routine verification is at low cost as it can be carried out as part of the regular DAO programme, down to geog level. However, while collecting the data, travel to the field would entail certain minimum travel costs which may have to be borne by the project.
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Data quality and risk assessment (who and how)
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It is important that regular training of field staffs and quality check on data is carried out. Most of the times, data quality is compromised when staffs do not receive adequate training in data collection and also when there is no adequate supervision from the DAO and the ADAOs.
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|
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INDICATOR CODE – National Post Harvest Centre
INDICATOR CODE: T2
SIMPLIFIED NAME OF INDICATOR: Number of postproduction technologies desseminated.
TYPE OF INDICATOR: Output
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION: Number of various postharvest technologies disseminated.
RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR:
Dissemination of appropriate postproduction technologies, through various channels is an integral part of NPHC’s mandate. It is imperative for the key stakeholders to be made aware of technologies and potential opportunities that may be suitable to curb the effect of climate change.
One of the challenges facing agriculture production globally is that regional climate regimes are becoming more unpredictable from year to year. The effect of climate change on postharvest stress susceptibility will become more important since postharvest stresses limit the storage and shelf life potential of fruits and vegetables. Significant amounts of the food produced in developing countries are lost after harvest thereby aggravating hunger. The causes of post-harvest losses, which some estimates suggest could range from 15 to as high as 50 percent of what is produced.
Post harvest losses of fruits and vegetables is estimated at 40 to 50 per cent in Bhutan due to improper handling, packaging and storage. Postharvest losses of cereal crops is estimated at 20 - 30 per cent in Asian countries and loss scenario in Bhutan would be much higher than other countries where the actual estimation was determined. The change in climatic condition during harvesting and storage intensifies the post harvest losses. Heavy rainfall during harvesting of potato and maize in absence of proper storage shed leads to total distruction of produce in the filed. Postproduction intervension on proper storage, drying and processing equipments would reduce the postharvest losses by 5 to 8 per cent of fruits, vegetables and cereals. Thereby increasing the availability of local produce and enhances the income of beneficiaries.
INDICATOR HISTORICAL TRENDS AND FUTURE PROJECTIONS:
|
Historical Performance Achievement (before start-up of 1st RNRSP)
|
Projections for indicator (targets) under original GCCA
|
Projections for indicators under 11th five year plan
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Calendar Year
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2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
GCCA Year
|
14
|
255
|
688
|
1141
|
1539
|
1803*
|
1813
|
1863
|
1913
|
1953
|
3120***
|
Actual achieved
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
Cost of potato and maize store construction is Nu. 40,850.00, Electrical dryer costs Nu. 10,000.00, frying set costs Nu. 10,000.00. (The postproduction infrastructures are disseminated on cost sharing basis, 50:50).
*The total consists of number of potato and maize stores, fruit and vegetable dryers and frying sets, this also serves as the baseline for the subsequent planned years.
***11 FYP target being 3120 Units.
ANALYSIS OF INDICATOR BEHAVIOUR:
Postproduction technologies are need based. The attempt has been made to develop simple, cost effective and esay to operate technologies. Such technologies were being provided to individual farmers on the concept of storing or processing individually and marketing collectively. Technologies such as potato seed stores, maize cob/seed stores, fruit and vegetables dryer and frying sets for potato and banana chips were initiated in the 10th fifth year. Since then the demand has been ever increasing where the cost of technologies were fully borne by the government. Every year 300 to 500 units of postproduction technologies were disseminated through out the country.
In the 11th fifth year most of these technologies will be supported on cost sharing basis, where the beneficiaries will contribute local materials and labour. Although we have planned for 200 to 300 postproduction technologies to be disseminated every year, however the activities were liable to change as per the budget. New technologies such as zero energy cold stores, ambient store and pack-houses will be intorduced for efficient and effective storing of fruits and vegetables at low cost. Providing an alternative to reduce glut during the season and extending the availability of local produce over longer duration. As a whole contributing to the food security and assuring balance diet.
OTHER RELATED INDICATORS: Increase in availability of local produce during off-season in per cent. Value addition and processing entreprenuers developed in number.
INSTITUTION RESPONSIBLE FOR INDICATOR OVERSIGHT:
National Post Harvest Centre, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests.
KEY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR INDICATOR MANAGEMENT:
Dechen Tshering, NPHC, DoA, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
Phone number:00975 8272406, 00975 8271493
Fax number: 00975 8271494
E-mail address: dechentshe78@gmail.com/ dechen_tshering@druknet.bt
METHODOLOGY FOR INDICATOR MANAGEMENT:
Stage in Data Management
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Description
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Data type selection (what is data to be collected and its level of aggregation)
|
Primary data needed for this indicator is number of units or postproduction technologies established.
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Data sources (what is the collection instrument)
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Annual report by the centre through monitoring and evaluation of postproduction infrastructure disseminated.
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Data collection (who is responsible for collecting)
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Data will be collected by the NPHC monitoring and evaluation team.
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Data processing (who carries out data entry and data processing and how)
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Data are compiled on Excel spreadsheets.
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Data presentation (how)
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Data is provided to users as simple printouts
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Data reporting (by whom to whom)
|
Data is sent to the Horticulture Division, DOA, at Thimphu and as requested by the focal point.
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Inputs required for data management (when and by whom)
|
The focal person at the centre will compile data submitted by the evaluation and monitoring team.
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Cost of verification
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Data collection through evaluation and monitoring of the infrastructures disseminated on annual basis. However, while collecting data travel to the field would entail certain minimum travel costs which may have to be borne by the project.
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Data quality and risk assessment (who and how)
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It is important that regular training of evaluation and moniroting team should be given. Data collection format should be developed and report should be submitted as per the designed format.
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|
|
INDICATOR CODE: T3
SIMPLIFIED NAME OF INDICATOR: Area (in acres) increased under sustainable land management interventions (SLM).
TYPE OF INDICATOR: Output
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION: Area (in acres) increased under sustainable land management interventions.
RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR:
Climate change and land degradation are more of two sides of same coin. Since land degradation is a serious socio-economic and environmental threat and SLM is a solution to land degradation, climate change, food security and poverty alleviation, there is a serious need to make significant increase in public investment in SLM. In Bhutan, forest fires, excessive use of forest resources, over-grazing, unsustainable agricultural practices, poor irrigation system management, construction of infrastructure such as farm roads without proper environmental measures, mining, industrial development, and urbanization are the key causes of land degradation.
The Sustainable Land Management Project housed under National Soil service Center had successfully piloted and documented SLM best practices and approaches that are suited on steep to very steep slopes of Bhutan. The case study conducted observed that particularly grass hedgerows reduce annual soil loss by about 44% (annual soil loss 29MT/Ha/Yr).
Furthermore, the benefits of actions to combat land degradation in Bhutan will not be limited to the country but will be trans-boundary in geographic scale. The protection of watersheds in Bhutan from adverse land use practices, whilst being crucial to sustain hydropower development and agriculture within the country, will also be enormously important to the livelihoods of many downstream communities in the floodplains of India and Bangladesh, who largely subsist on crop agriculture and fishery.
It is also important that we take proactive measures to combat land degradation and its impacts because our landscapes are extremely vulnerable to climate change as a result of the fragile geological conditions, intense rainfall, and rugged topography. Not only do well-managed landscapes play an important role in moderating the impacts of climate change, they also function as a major carbon sink.
INDICATOR HISTORICAL TRENDS AND FUTURE PROJECTIONS
:
Historical and Projected Historical Performance Achievement (before start-up of 1st RNRSP)
|
Projections for indicator (targets) under 11 FYP
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Calendar Year
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2009
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
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2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
GCCA Year
|
|
8071*
|
8081
|
8095
|
8110
|
8125
|
8140
|
11071**
|
Actual achieved
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nu 50000/Ac unit cost is assumed as per standard
*’ Baseline target being set at 8071 acres ( acheived during SLMP period).
**11 FYP target being 11071 acres. ( Increase by 3000 Ac in 11FYP)
ANALYSIS OF INDICATOR BEHAVIOUR:
It is estimated that worldwide 1.97 billion hectares of all usable land have been affected by various forms of human-induced land degradation. Deforestation, overgrazing, fuel wood consumption, agricultural mis management, industries, urbanization, and infrastructure development are the key causes. Poverty, population growth and natural factors such as extreme climate and unstable geology also contribute significantly.
The Royal Government of Bhutan has been implementing various programs and projects to combat land degradation since the advent of Five Year Plans in the early 1960s but they have been largely taking place in a piecemeal fashion within individual sector plans and basically without macro-level policy and strategic perspective. Vulnerable households face more constraints to adapt SLM interventions due to small land holdings, the need for direct returns of their limited land holdings and general lack of farm labour. Long-term character of many SLM interventions, with benefits emerging over a long-term period, are inherent difficulty of SLM measures hampering easy adoption and uptake.
Sustainable Land Management Project housed under NSSC funded by Global Environmental Fund through World Bank had implemented large scale SLM programmes in three dzongkhags consisting of nine geogs. SLM interventions reached to other dzongkhags through supporting thematical calls. At the end of project period by June 2013, 8071 acres of unsustainable land were converted under sustainable land management practices. More so in the past FYP, SLM hardly featured in the geog and dzongkhag annual plans as SLM plans were usually executed centrally. However, in the 11 FYP, the SLM interventions were mainstreamed and reflected in the geog and dzongkhag plans. Further, to facilitate the uptake and adoption of SLM best practices, it is important to initiate policy development aimed at providing incentives or rewarding farmers for converting their land to more sustainable practices such as Payment for Environmental Services (PES).
OTHER RELATED INDICATORS: Increase in area under terraced dryland, contour hedgerows and contour bundings
INSTITUTION RESPONSIBLE FOR INDICATOR OVERSIGHT:
NSSC, Simthokha Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests.
KEY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR INDICATOR MANAGEMENT:
Chenga Tshering, Agriculture officer, NSSC, DoA Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
Phone number: 17963782
E-mail address: Hakadrukpa@gmail.com
FOR INDICATOR MANAGEMENT:
Stage in Data Management
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Description
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Data type selection (what is data to be collected and its level of aggregation)
|
Primary data needed for this indicator are total acres of land command area under improved SLM interventions.
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Data sources (what is the collection instrument)
|
The annual progress report submitted by the dzongkhags/NSSC shall serve as the data source.
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Data collection (who is responsible for collecting)
|
LMU unit and Dzongkhag Agricultural Officer (DAO) and his staff collect data as required to up-date the progress report. Geog level staff also provides information.
|
Data processing (who carries out data entry and data processing and how)
|
Data are compiled on Excel spreadsheets.
|
Data presentation (how)
|
Data are provided to users as simple printouts
|
Data reporting (by whom to whom)
|
Data are sent to the Agricutlure Division, DOA, at Thimphu and as requested by the focal point.
|
Inputs required for data management (when and by whom)
|
The concerned unit incharge shall collect the primary data and compile the annual progress report. Informations will also be collected from DAO”s and RNRDC’s.
|
Cost of verification
|
Routine verification is at low cost as it can be carried out as part of the regular unit programme. However, while collecting data travel to the field would entail certain minimum travel costs which may have to be borne by the project.
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Data quality and risk assessment (who and how)
|
SLM data base training could be initiated so that data quality are up to mark.
|
|
|
INDICATOR CODE: CCA-VT-3
SIMPLIFIED NAME OF INDICATOR: Efficient Irrigation Systems for Horticulture Cash Crops
TYPE OF INDICATOR: Output
INDICATOR DESCRIPTION:
Area (in acres) under efficient irrigation systems for horticulture cash crops is increasing (through water harvesting, water storage, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation)
RATIONALE FOR INDICATOR:
Irrigation has previously been associated only with wetland farming, and irrigation in dryland farming areas is a relatively new concept in Bhutan. The irrigated land in the country is less than 18% of the total arable land, and it is mostly focused on rice cultivation. The horticulture crops, fruit crops in particular, are hardly irrigated although agriculture exports are dominated by horticulture crops.
Technology options for improved water delivery systems and efficient methods to irrigate crops have not been explored in great depth so far. Programmes on water harvesting, efficient water delivery systems, water storage structures, use of groundwater, and modern irrigation technologies (drip, sprinkler) are at an infancy.
INDICATOR HISTORICAL TRENDS AND FUTURE PROJECTIONS:
|
Historical Performance Achievement
|
(Before start-up of RNR-CCAP)
|
Projections for indicator (targets)
With RNR-CCAP support
|
Projections for indicator (targets) under remainder of 11th FYP but currently outside RNR-CCAP funding
|
Calendar Year +
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
RNR-CCAP Year
|
|
|
T
|
T+1
|
T+2
|
T+3
|
T+4
|
|
|
Targets related to 11th FYP++
|
|
|
0
|
0
|
30*
|
150*
|
350
|
550
|
741
|
Actual achieved
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
+ CY is the year for which performance data are collected for budget release eligibility in July of the following year; in the case of process indicators under RNR-CCAP performance may be delayed as late as June
++ Targets are cumulative and relate to total acres achieved in Bhutan (Including those in the four target RNR-CCAP Dzongkhags)
T is baseline year
T+1 is first year with a budget release in July
* Performance achievement used to trigger release of 25% of Variable Tranche for FY 2015-16
** Performance achievement used to trigger release of 20% Variable Tranche for FY 2016-17
ANALYSIS OF INDICATOR BEHAVIOUR:
Piloting of improved water delivery and efficient irrigation methods has been introduced in dryland farming areas in recent years e.g. by SNV. This concept is being slowly adopted but at a very slow pace as farmers are not very used to irrigating dryland crops. Farmers depend on the south-westerly monsoon rain that accounts for 60 to 90 % of annual precipitation for their crops. Climate change effects, including erratic weather patterns, have rendered dryland farming highly vulnerable to water shortages at critical times in the agricultural calendar making these farmers highly food insecure.
Since there is no previous data collected on this irrigation system, there is no accurate baseline, hence the DOA is about to establish a data management system for this indicator. The DOA considers the baseline year in 2012 to have 0 acres under this type of irrigation and the 11th FYP is the first plan period to embark on up-scaling this model of irrigated horticulture crops.
OTHER RELATED INDICATORS:
Increasing annual production of horticulture crops in MT/year (disaggregated by crop type)
Yields of horticulture crops increasing in MT/ha/year (disaggregated by crop type)
INSTITUTION RESPONSIBLE FOR INDICATOR OVERSIGHT:
Ms KinlayTshering, Chief Horticulture Officer, Horticulture Division, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Thimphu, Bhutan
Phone: 00 975 17757240
E-mail: kinlaytshering@moa.gov.bt
KEY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR INDICATOR MANAGEMENT:
Karma Tshethar, Chief Engineer (Irrigation Specialist), Engineering Division, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Phone number: +975 2 17593718 (Office)
E-mail address: karmatshethar@yahoo.com
METHODOLOGY FOR INDICATOR MANAGEMENT:
Stage in Data Management
|
Description
|
Data type selection (what is data to be collected and its level of aggregation)
|
Primary data needed for this indicator are total acres of efficient irrigation system for horticulture cash crops (using water harvesting, water storage, drip and sprinkler systems)
|
Data sources (what is the collection instrument)
|
At the time of the JAR1 mission there was no database for this indicator. After a series of meetings at DOA, it was decided to establish a central database at the Chief Engineer’s Office. The database is expected to include: Gewog name, GPS location, name of primary water source and type, length and type of pipes to fields, type of delivery systems (drip/sprinkler), number of beneficiary households, command area in acres, status (functional) or non-functional), funding sources and amount used, horticulture cropping pattern, land conservation system (bench terracing, individual platforms, small basins), etc. All Dzongkhags will collect the data.
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Data collection (who is responsible for collecting)
|
Dzongkhag Agricultural Officer (DAO) and his staff will collect data as required to up-date the database. The concerned RNR Gewog staff will collect the primary data and submit to the Assistant DAO who is also the official data manager at the Dzongkhag level. Consideration should be given to using a mobile-based data collection system on a pilot basis for collecting this data. If found to be successful, it could also be used for other CCA activities including early warning and climate event logging.
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Data processing (who carries out data entry and data processing and how)
|
The ADAO will then input into the prescribed Excel sheets for onward submission to the Chief Engineer at the DOA in Thimphu.
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Data presentation (how)
|
Data are provided to users either as Excel files or as simple printouts
|
Data reporting (by whom to whom)
|
Data are sent to the Engineering Division, DOA, at Thimphu on a quarterly basis, and/or as requested by the Chief Engineer.
|
Inputs required for data management (when and by whom)
|
Since the data will be collected by the Dzongkhag administration as part of their regular programme, no major extra inputs are required for data collection or management of this indicator. New irrigation command areas have to be mapped and acres measured by DAO staff for inclusion in the local database. Since the areas are considered to be quite small, at least compared to paddy irrigation areas, the time taken to carry out surveys will be manageable. Surveying equipment and other field resources may be required.
|
Cost of verification
|
Routine verification is at low cost as it can be carried out as part of the regular DAO programme down to Gewog level. Any specialised surveys using consultants will be of moderate to high cost viz. the 2013 World Bank Study
|
Data quality and risk assessment (who and how)
|
Since this is a new activity for data collection, it is important that regular training of field staff and quality checks on data be carried out by staff from the Engineering Division in Thimphu or through external consultants. Training in the new database will be required.
|
ANY SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Maps with locations of all the efficient irrigation systems would be useful. If GPS records are collected accurately then data can be entered at one of the GIS nodes in MOAF.
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