The Production Program has eight farms located in different dzongkhags at different altitude and climatic conditions to facilitate the service throughout the year in all kinds of seeds and seedlings.
1. Regional Seed Centre, Chundudingkha, Paro
Regional Seed Centre, Chundudingkha located at the Headquarter of National Seed Centre, Paro is one of the four regional centres of NSC. It is located on a slightly steep slope facing North at an altitude of 2410 masl. It has a total area of 23.9 acres inclusive of the areas covered under the administrative structures.
The area under cultivation is around 15 acres. Currently it is being managed by one Agriculture Officer supported by an Agriculture Supervisor. There are 9 ESPs working for the centre. The main mandate of the centre is to produce temperate fruit seedlings mainly walnut, selected vegetable seeds like Japanese greens and high altitude paddy seeds through RSGs. Besides that, the farm also produces citrus (mandarin) seedlings under protected structure.
2. Bondey farm
Bondey farm was established in March, 1966 at the altitude of 2200 masl. Bondey Farm has an area of 13 acres and is currently managed by one staff and 9 ESP. The farm is dedicated to the production of open pollinated vegetable seeds and few seedlings to enhance agricultural productivity in the country, also fulfilling the socially mandated crops.
The farm focuses on producing high-quality seeds for various crops, including vegetables like radish, pea, bunching onion, Pumpkin, asparagus and strawberry suited to Bhutan’s diverse agro-climatic zones.
3. Jewphu farm
Jewphu farm was established in 1986 by late Dasho Keiji Nishoka. The farm is located at the altitude of 2500 masl, 3 km away from the head office (National Seed Centre), on the way to Chelela pass. The farm comprises of 21.82 acres, used as nursery for the production ofvarious temperate fruit plants. It is currently managed and supervised by a farm manager, a horticulture officer with 11 ESPs (elementary service personnel). The farm is mandate to produce temperate fruit saplings like Apple, peach, pear, prune, apricot , walnut, almond , cherry, strawberry, persimmon, Kiwi, plum and chestnut. Most of the temperate fruit plants are propagated by grafting except chestnuts which are propagated through seeds, whereas strawberries are propagated through runners. The saplings are produced every year and supplied with standard quality to every Dzongkhags based on their demand.
4. Regional Seed Centre, Bajo farm
The NSC Regional Seed Centre, Bajo is one of the four regional centers of National Seed Centre in the country. The regional seed centre Bajo farm has the regional mandate to function as the seed supplying agency in the West- Central Region which is formed by the Dzongkhags of Gasa, Punakha, Wangduephodrang and Dagana. The centre enjoys a subtropical climate with an average temperature of 21 degree C. The maximum temperature recorded till date is 33.7 degree C and a minimum of 0.6 degree.
The centre is located at Bajo, Wangdue Phodrang at an altitude of 1200 masl on the east bank of Punatsang Chu.
5. Phobjikha Farm
Established in 1964 by Bhutan German Project (BGSP). Farm A has 36.15 acres, Farm B has 22.14 acres and Office Colony 8 acres. (In Farm B after land development the farm measures 11 acres) only. The main crop is to produce Certified Seed potato quantity 30MT in total in a year for all released varieties. The farm deals with five potato varieties like Yusi Maap, Desiree, Khangma Kaap, Yusi Maap II and Yusi Chips. The farm maintain Micro tuber G0 production from Bio Tech Lab in Greenhouse till G4 generation and mini tuber from Aeroponic production as G1 till G4 generation in the field.
Farm also procure and collect 120 MT of certified potato seeds varieties Desiree and Yusi Maap, and supply them to Dzongkhags. The quantity of collection depends on the yearly demand from the various Dzongkhags and clients. Also Maintain potato germplasm of different clones and baby trials in collaboration with National potato Program, ARDC, yusipang, Thimphu.
6. Nangsiphel Farm, Bumthang
Nangsiphel Farm in Bumthang was established in 1966 for the Seed Potato Production for Central and East Central Regions as the location is ideally suitable for the crop with minimum incidence of viral and bacterial diseases. Initially the farm has a total of 52.70 acres. As per the directives of the Ministry, 28.89 acres of farmland has been handed over to National Horse Breeding Centre and 14.16 acres to the Central Machinery Unit in 2006 and now known as FMCL. At present, Nangsiphel Seed Farm has about 9.65 acres for seed production of Potato and vegetable seeds.
The Nangsiphel Seed Farm (NSF) coordinates production of certified seeds like potato (main activities) and also vegetable seeds using the Registered Seed Grower’s scheme (RSGs).
7. Regional Seed Centre Jachedphu, Trashiyangtse
Regional Seed Centre (RSC) Jachedphu was established in 1968 and it is located in Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag at an altitude of around 1910 masl and has an area of 35.10acres. The farm which was closed during the erstwhile Druk Seed Corporation was re-opened in 2011.
Currently, the farm is managed by a Regional Manager. The area is suitable for mid altitude crops and vegetable seed production. Centre has Registered Seed Growers (RSGs) for maize seed production at Shaphangma village Drametse Gewog under Mongar Dzongkhag, Dangrey, Upper and Lower Changmi, Shongphu gewog under Trashigang Dzongkhag, Shali, Khamdhang Gewog under Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag. The regional seed centre has 35.10acres of land managed by three technical & two supporting staffs with 13 farm laborers (ESP). Centre has three polycarbonate green houses for citrus seedling production and one polycarbonate greenhouse for citrus bud wood production supported by the UNDP/GEF project and EU-RDCRP. The centre also has one vegetable seed processing house with complete sets of vegetable seed processing and packaging machinery supported by the CARLEP project.
8. Regional Seed Centre, Samtenling
9. Fertilizer Store, Phuentsholing
The Fertilizer store, based in Phuentsholing caters to ASSRs (Agriculture Sales and Service Representative) of twenty dzongkhags supplying high quality different types/manufacturers of fertilizers for the benefit of farmers increasing crop yield and productivity.
The following are the different types/manufacturers of fertilizers handled by National Seed Centre, Fertilizer Store, Phuentsholing.
Fertilizer | Manufacturer /Brand | Selling Price/Kg |
NPK16:16:16(Suphala) | IPL (Bharti Jan Urvarak Pariyojna) | 60.32 |
Urea (46%N) | IPL (Bharat Urea) | 33.86 |
SSP (16%P2O) | IPL (Sai Fertilizer Pvt.Limited) | 34.80 |
MoP (60%K2O) | IPL (Bharti Jan Urvarak Pariyojna) | 42.64 |
Borax (20% Boron) | Mahabir Agro Chemical Pvt.Ltd. | 218 |
The fertilizers are supplied through ASSRs appointed by the respective Dzongkhag Agriculture sector for a period of one year and then renewed yearly based on their performance. The ASSRs should sell the fertilizers at the fixed price which is set up by our office after adding up the over head cost.
The ASSRs are paid a commission of 10 % for every fertilizer they sell and therefore are not allowed to increase the price fixed by our office regardless of their location.The transportation cost is also borne by the RGOB in order to help the farmers to purchase the fertilizer at uniform price anywhere in the country.
26 total views, 2 views today