Phase II: July 2008 to December 2011
Budget: CHF 2,150 million (Helvetas,
partly supported with inputs
by Adliswil community and Elysium Foundation )
Partner: Project Management Unit, Zhemgang and MoA, Thimphu.
Contact: Dorji Wangdi, Project Manager; dorjiwangdi_rlp ( ) druknet.bt
Location/Geographic Coverage : Zhemgang,
Trongsa, Sarpang
and Bumthang
The Rural Livelihood Project (RLP) is the second
phase of support for rural development in four districts in the east
central region. :
The goal of the project is “to strengthen sustainable rural livelihood interventions in the 4 dzongkhags of the east central region for poverty reduction”. The project has three expected outcomes:
Rural economic enhancement schemes have developed into a sustainable alternative for rural income generation;
Rural livelihood assets have significantly improved the income generating opportunities of rural communities in the 4 Dzongkhags of the east central region;
Farmers’ group/associations and their competencies have substantially improved.
Main Achievements:
The achievements in current phase of the project are:
Capacity development for extension agents in animal production and rural extension;
Contributed to planning and/or implementation of farm road and feeder road projects in Sarpang, Zhemgang and Trongsa districts.
Supported group activities for projects focusing on marketing, saving/credit schemes, livestock production and post harvest (dairy processing).
Outlook:
The future priorities are:
Support small enterprise development (piggery, fishery, poultry farms), including capacity development of farmers’ groups;
Provide technical assistance in participatory market chain analysis and value addition in collaboration with other development partners and projects;
Support development and strengthening of market outlets and linkages with markets;
Improve storage and processing facilities to reduce post harvest losses;
Support innovations such as drip irrigation, food processing, optimal use of local feed
Challenges of the project include: lack of practical models for enterprise development, limited opportunities for communities not reached by road, coordination with other development partners/projects.