11/08/2026
๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฅโ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฒ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐, ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ณ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ก๐๐ ๐ฌ
6-10 August
๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ: Dr Sangay Letho, Program Director, RLDC
___________________________________
The Director General of the Department of Livestock undertook an official field visit to engage with Dzongkhag livestock teams, regional centres, local governments, highland communities, farmer groups and livestock enterprises in the eastern Dzongkhags. The visit focused on reviewing programme progress, understanding field-level challenges and providing strategic guidance to strengthen livestock development and service delivery.
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฒ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ณ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ก๐๐
In Trashiyangtse, the Director General interacted with the Dzongkhag Livestock Sector and Dzongkhag Administration. The team presented its achievements, programme progress and operational challenges.
Key concerns included human resource shortages, particularly the need for a laboratory technician at the Dzongkhag Veterinary Hospital, and animal health risks associated with the illegal movement of cattle, horses and dogs across border areas.
The Director General appreciated the progress achieved and emphasized the need to align Dzongkhag and Departmental work plans with the priorities of the 13th Five-Year Plan. She highlighted the importance of Performance Compacts, performance dashboards, leadership, accountability and greater ownership at all levels.
She also stressed the effective use of digital platforms, including FRS, VIS, LIMS and NDIS, for evidence-based planning, traceability and improved service delivery, while encouraging greater integration among the systems to reduce duplication.
On human resource constraints, she shared that the Department is exploring longer-term measures to strengthen field-level services. Stronger surveillance, biosecurity and coordination were also emphasized to address animal health risks in border areas.
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ค๐ญ๐๐ง๐ , ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ณ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ก๐๐
In Sakteng, the Director General interacted with local government representatives, highland communities and livestock stakeholders.
Discussions focused on highland livestock development, opportunities in high-value products such as yak fibre, and support through programmes including GEF, RNR Jobs and IMPACT.
Challenges associated with difficult terrain, staff shortages and specialized high-altitude livestock production systems were also discussed. Highland communities were encouraged to strengthen production, value addition and income-generating activities while preserving their traditional livestock-based livelihoods.
๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ข ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ซ, ๐๐๐ค๐ญ๐๐ง๐
During the interaction with members of the Koi Tshethar Shelter, issues related to registration, shortage of tsamdro and disease risks were discussed.
The Director General emphasized the importance of clearly defined roles among the community, local authorities and relevant agencies, while assuring continued technical support from the Department within its mandate. Community ownership and formally endorsed proposals for additional support were also encouraged.
๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐
The Director General interacted with members involved in Yathra weaving and wool processing and appreciated their efforts in preserving traditional skills, promoting value addition and creating rural livelihood opportunities.
During discussions with the Highland Lanor Tshogpa, emerging livestock health concerns, including Lumpy Skin Disease, were highlighted. The Director General encouraged livestock owners to consider livestock insurance as a risk-management measure in view of changing disease patterns and climate-related risks.
Requirements for upgrading facilities and equipment were also discussed, along with possibilities for support through GEF and other relevant programmes.
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ
During visits to dairy and poultry initiatives in Thrakthri and Sakteng, farmer groups shared their production activities, marketing arrangements and priority support requirements.
Key needs included silo pits, improved feed and fodder, fencing, pasture development, milk-processing equipment, land-lease arrangements, poultry heating systems and capacity building.
The Director General appreciated the initiatives and advised the groups to explore available support programmes and strengthen coordination with the Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperatives (DAMC).
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ, ๐๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐
At Pema Olo Farm, discussions focused on pasture development, forest management, equipment maintenance and the proposed establishment of a milk-processing unit.
The Director General advised the farm to formally submit matters requiring Departmental coordination with relevant authorities. The farmโs interest in undertaking self-financed technical training in China on equipment operation and maintenance was also discussed, with the Department offering to support the identification of suitable and credible training institutions.
๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ณ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ฆ
The Director General also interacted with the Regional Livestock Development Centre (RLDC) and the Trashigang Dzongkhag Livestock Team, where programme achievements, operational challenges and future priorities were discussed.
A major focus was the need to approach livestock development from an entire value-chain perspective, particularly in light of recent challenges related to pork marketing and egg supply.
The Director General emphasized that production planning should be based on a clear understanding of production, market demand, processing, distribution, marketing and consumption. Both surplus and deficit situations should serve as important lessons for improving future planning.
Human resource shortages and the workload associated with livestock extension and vaccination programmes were also highlighted. The Director General emphasized the need to re-strategize vaccination programmes according to disease risks, livestock populations, geographical conditions and available manpower while strengthening collaboration between Dzongkhags and regional centres.
The Cost-Sharing Mechanism (CSM) was also discussed, particularly the challenges faced by farmers requiring larger investments. Concerns related to multiple digital platforms were similarly raised, with emphasis placed on greater interoperability and integration of livestock information systems to reduce duplication and improve service delivery.
๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ค ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ, ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐
On 10 August 2026, while returning to Thimphu from her eastern tour, the Director General made a brief visit to the Central Milk Processing Unit (CMPU) at Bjeezam, Trongsa.
During the interaction, the CMPU team highlighted key field-level concerns, particularly the shortage of field staff and issues associated with ongoing staff transfer exercises.
The Director General was also briefed on the Unitโs ongoing activities and progress, including Farm Business, E2B and other initiatives aimed at strengthening the dairy value chain and contributing towards the development of a thriving dairy industry.
The visit provided an opportunity for the team to share its field experiences, operational challenges and priorities and to discuss areas requiring continued support for strengthening livestock services and dairy development.
