Phase III: January 2009 to December 2011
Budget: CHF 477,500
Partner: Rural Development Training, Zhemgang and MoA, Thimphu.
Contact: Mr. Chimi Dorji, Programme Director: chhimi.dorji ( ) rdtc.edu.bt
The Rural Development Training is an endeavor conceived under the command of His Majesty the Fourth King which has come into reality with the joint efforts of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Helvetas.
The main Goal and Objective of the Project are to:
Enhanced production and productivity of farm enterprises through skills-based Farm Business Training;
Improved skills for community and association management (Community and Association Leaders’ Training);
Increased opportunities in agriculture for self-employment and livelihood prospects for youth (agriculture awareness and apprenticeship training);
Enhanced quality, effectiveness and sustainability of training services.
The RDT is fully staffed and all the instructors have returned after attending Post Graduate Diploma courses from the region. The regular short trainings are being conducted in the districts by the team from RDT on Farm Business, School Youths, Community and Association Leaders training.
Main Achievements
Six modules of CLT are fully institutionalised and attended by 225 men and women during the year.
Ten modules of farm business training (one additional module developed during the year) were attended by 205 men and women.
Youth agriculture awareness was attended by 63 school going children of various schools.
Six staff members strengthened their capacity to offer better training services to our clients.
Conducted tracer study that showed that 52% of the participants covered by the survey use the knowledge skills gained during the training some as community leaders and some as business entrepreneurs.
Four modules related to farmers groups developed and incorporated in the training plan.
Last unit of staff housing completed and allotted to the lady instructor.
Challenges
Getting the correct information across to all the stakeholders
Apprenticeship programme not seen as interesting programme by the youths
Difficult to maintain the morale of the staff in the new service system (PCS)
Difficult to maintain motivation of the farm attendants due to heavy farm work
Outlook
The institute has all the required infrastructures and is well equipped with farm machineries, transport facilities, IT equipments which are installed and connected. RDT will develop more modules based on the needs of the farmers. RDT will develop with a business plan that will guide the future of the RDT.
Instructor demonstrating grafting during
Lady participants trying their skills at grafting
nursery production training
during nursery production training