DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK (BUMTHANG)

Livestock plays an integral role in the lives of Bhutanese farmers. Large areas of the country can only be used for livestock production, while in other parts livestock is an integral component of a deeply rooted farming system. In order to achieve the overall national objective of higher living standards for the Bhutanese population, rapid gains and high productivity is essential. This can be accelerated with good organization structure whose institutions clearly defines and focuses on important aspects of efficient productivity under varied conditions.

Ever since the planned development started, Bhutan was critically short of skilled manpower. Even now Bhutan lacks skilled manpower in terms of quality and quantity. Through the development phase, there has been replacement of expatriates who were assisting in many development roles, yet Bhutan has never reached a situation whereby there are enough for every need. Therefore, this exercise mainly focused on approach towards meeting development needs based on available capacity of established institutions. Accordingly institutional setup for the department is re-organized with priority towards achieving national objectives by boosting outputs from established institutions to achieve realistic results from the field with efficient delivery of services.

Bumthang is one of the dairy dependent Dzongkhag in the country.

Vision

To attain food-security and self-sufficiency in livestock products through enhanced rural livelihoods to alleviate poverty.

Mission

To increase livestock productivity by ensuring prompt delivery of appropriate technologies and services through commodity based approach.

Mandates

The mandates of Department of Livestock are as follows:

  1. Develop sound policies, strategies and guidelines, to ensure efficient delivery of livestock services.
  2. Develop capacity of all programs and agencies including human resources.
  3. Mobilize resources for livestock development.
  4. Plan, co-ordinate, monitor, and evaluate the overall livestock development.
  5. Liaise with international and national stakeholders in areas of livestock.

 

 

Objectives

The objectives of Department of Livestock are as follows:

  1. Create enabling environment for farmers/entrepreneurs to invest in livestock activities.
  2. Enhance income generation capacity of rural communities.
  3. Enhance livestock production and productivity.
  4. Achieve greater food-security and self-sufficiency in livestock products.
  5. Improve the nutritional status of the people.
  6. Develop appropriate interventions for enhancement of availability of feed and fodder resources.
  7. Expand the fodder resource base by integrating fodder, exploring rangelands and leasing in forest land.
  8. Implement effective and efficient disease prevention and control programs.
  9.  Provide superior quality inputs to the farmers.
  10. Provide effective breed improvement services.
  11. Reduce the population of unproductive cattle in the country.
  12. Provide interventions to increase production.
  13. Organize farmer’s groups, markets and marketing networks.

 

Brief information of Livestock Sector in the Dzongkhag

 

  1. Dzongkhag Livestock Office- 1 No.
  2. Dzongkhag Veterinary Hospital- 1 No.
  3. RNR Extension Centre: 4 Nos. (Thangbi, Tang, Ura & Chhumig)
  4. Staff:  12 Nos. (Dz.HQ-3, DVH-5, Gewogs-4)
  5. Milk Processing Units (Government supported)- 5 Nos. (Tamzhing, Chhumig, Bebzur, Shingkhar & Ura)
  6. Milk Processing Unit (Private)- 3 Nos. (Batpalathang, Chhoekhortoe & Pralang)
  7. Dairy Farmer Groups: 9 Nos. (Chhoekhor-1, Tang-2, Ura-3, Chhumig-3)
  8. Yak Group- 2 Nos. (Khangdrog & Dhurdrog,  Chhoekhor)
  9. Sheep Group- 1 No. (Lower Chhumig)
  10. Bee Cooperative- 1 No. (Jalikhar, Chhoekhor)
  11. Bee Farmer Groups: 3 Nos. (Ura-1, Chhumig-1, Tang-1)
  12. Biogas plants- 10 Nos. (Chhoekhor-6, Chhumig- 4)