Arya News - Managing land is crucial because soil erosion reduces nutrient and organic matter content, affecting crop yields and soil workability.
THIMPHU – The government aims to bring 15,220 acres of farmland under sustainable land management (SLM) by the end of the 13th Plan, intensifying efforts to restore soil health, reduce erosion, and strengthen climate resilience.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) acknowledged the absence of comprehensive scientific impact assessments for nationwide interventions.
The ministry’s spokesperson said that no scientific research in Bhutan has comprehensively assessed the impact of SLM and Agricultural Land Development (ALD) interventions on soil fertility and climate resilience.
“However, the SLM interventions like napier grass hedgerows and stone bunds, and ALD interventions, mainly terracing, help retain fertile topsoil onsite,” the spokesperson said. “These actions build soil fertility and soil health over time, thereby enhancing crop yield and production.”
Moreover, the interventions conserve soil moisture, reducing the impact of drought and building resilience to climate change.
A pilot study conducted by the ministry between 2008 and 2009 on soil erosion rates revealed the risks of current farming practices on steep slopes.
The study found that agricultural practices on steep slopes led to accelerated topsoil loss, averaging 6.42 tonnes per hectare per year. In contrast, plots where SLM interventions were implemented recorded an average soil loss of 3.81 tonnes per hectare per year.
“The introduction of SLM interventions, particularly napier grass hedgerows, led to a considerable decrease in the soil erosion rate, an average of 40 percent for well-established hedgerows,” the spokesperson said.
Managing land is crucial because soil erosion reduces nutrient and organic matter content, affecting crop yields and soil workability. It also increases sediment loads in rivers, causing downstream impacts.
“Moreover, the increased sediment load significantly impacts hydropower dams and plants, particularly by reducing dam capacity and increasing wear and tear on turbines,” the spokesperson added.
MoAL Secretary Thinley Namgyel said that launching the Soil Atlas of Bhutan on March 27, 2024, is a key step in strengthening soil data systems. The Atlas provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date soil information across 20 dzongkhags.
The soil maps were prepared using information from 1,882 sampling points, including soil profiles and auger bore samples.
With a primary focus on agricultural land, the data were combined with environmental covariates derived from satellite imagery and analysed using advanced machine learning tools to generate spatial predictions of soil properties at national and dzongkhag levels.
The results identified seven different soil types, reflecting diverse climatic, geological, geomorphological, and biological conditions, as well as variations in parent materials.
“The Soil Atlas of Bhutan 2024 stands as a crucial repository, providing policymakers, land managers, and farmers with essential insights for informed land use planning, soil conservation, and crop suitability assessments,” the secretary said.
Until 2024, he added that Bhutan relied exclusively on global default datasets whose quality and reliability were uncertain.
The Bhutan Soil Information System (BhuSIS), now at an advanced stage of development, will serve as a centralised repository of soil data. It will support informed decision-making, improved land management, and sustainable resource use.
According to the ministry, BhuSIS is also designed to meet regional and global standards. It will align with systems such as the International Soil Reference and Information Centre and the Global Soil Information System, both under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
“It is very critical that BhuSIS is comparable and syncs well with these global soil information systems,” the spokesperson said.
Bhutan currently has only one national referral Soil and Plant Analytical Laboratory at Semtokha, Thimphu.
Farmers from distant areas face difficulties transporting soil samples. To bring soil testing and advisory services closer to farmers, the ministry is currently exploring alternatives.
Establishing and strengthening regional soil laboratories is one feasible option. However, distance remains a challenge.
As an alternative, the National Soil Services Centre (NSSC) under the Department of Agriculture has begun promoting rapid soil testing kits and mobile soil testing equipment.
In the first phase, one set each was supplied to four Agriculture Research and Development Centres for pilot use. Based on positive feedback, more sets will be distributed to selected dzongkhags.
“Dzongkhags can proactively initiate soil testing and provide advisory services to farmers. Farmers can also request mobile services,” the spokesperson said.
The NSSC is also exploring sensor-based soil testing technologies in collaboration with the InnoTech Department of Druk Holding and Investments Limited. The sensors have been procured and will be tested in the current fiscal year 2025-26.
“The purpose of exploring sensor-based soil testing is to obtain real-time soil data for timely nutrient application,” said the spokesperson, adding that the technology would be particularly relevant for mega-greenhouse facilities where precision nutrient management is critical.
Regarding the broader policy direction, Secretary Thinley Namgyel said that soil and land form the foundation of national food systems, stating that soil and land are the basis of 95 percent of the food we eat.
The ministry’s investment targets show that SLM interventions are being implemented through various area development projects that include dedicated components for SLM. This also involves other civil society organisations and international partners.
With combined funding support from different sources, the ministry aims to bring an additional 3,600 acres of farmland under sustainable management, taking the total cumulative area to 15,220 acres by the end of the 13th Plan.