𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 | 𝟮𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

There is a kind of knowledge that lives not in books, but in seeds.

Today, the National Biodiversity Centre Bhutan and Trashigang Dzongkhag Administration gathered farmers, scientists, and leaders under one umbrella — not to discuss agriculture in the abstract, but to honour it in the living, breathing, soil-stained particular.

Farmers arrived carrying crop varieties that supermarket shelves have never seen and textbooks have never named. Scientists knelt beside their displays with careful, grateful eyes. And Dasho Dzongdag reminded a gathering — that what grows from this land deserves the same devotion we reserve for anything truly sacred.

Dr. Asta Tamang, Specialist at NBC, delivered a compelling presentation on the Importance of Biodiversity, Agro-biodiversity and Crop Diversity, Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation Efforts in Bhutan — highlighting the urgency of protecting indigenous crop varieties in the face of modern agricultural pressures.

A highlight of the morning was the Opening of the Crop Diversity Exhibition, jointly inaugurated by Dasho Dzongdag and NBC Programme Director Dr. Karma D. Dorji, showcasing rare and unique crop varieties brought by farmers from different Dzongkhags.

In the afternoon, the Evaluation Results of Crop Diversity Displays were announced, followed by the proud moment of the day — the Award of Certificates of Recognition to farmers who exhibited high, unique, and rare crop diversity.

The event concluded with a vibrant Farmer-to-Farmer Seed Exchange and open discussions — reinforcing Bhutan’s grassroots commitment to food sovereignty and biodiversity conservation.