The Hon’ble Agriculture Secretary, Dasho Sherub Gyaltshen met with the Minister of Science and Technology, Thailand, Dr. Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich on 11^th September 2009 at MoA conference hall to discuss about the biotech aspects.

The meeting started with presentations by RC Yusipang on Bhutan Biotech Collaboration Cordyceps Research and the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) on the National Biodiversity Programme. The Minister and her team were informed about the Bhutanese Cordyceps sinensis (yartsa goenbup) which was once a community bound resource. The ban on collection and sale of Cordyceps sinensis was lifted in 2004 for the first time in Lunana. The presentation also mentioned illegal poaching as one of the initial problems during research on Cordyceps sinensis. NBC informed the team about its activities including about the gene bank.

MoA and Thai Ministry of Science and Technology Officials 

During the meeting, the Minister expressed her appreciation and said, “There are not many countries in the world with green covered forests and rich in biodiversity like Bhutan.” She added that although there are around four hundred species of Cordyceps in Thailand, yet they are not able to make proper use of it.

Speaking further, she said, “We need to understand and improve the richness of our bio-resources for the benefit of our people as both countries are rich in resources in different level of altitude.”

The Secretary thanked the Minister for offering fruitful interaction and hoped to improve more in biotech aspects in the near future.

The Thai Minister at the demonstration plot at RC Yusipang

Later in the afternoon, the team visited RC Yusipang and NBC. At Yusipang, they visited the demonstration cum trial on temperate fruit plants like pear, apple, persimmon and peaches which were established in 2002 through Royal Thai Foundation, Thailand. The trial was initiated with the main objectives to introduce new promising fruit plants from Royal Thai Foundation, and help in diversification of temperate and sub-tropical fruit crops in Bhutan.

At the NBC the Thai Minister inspects a laboratory

At NBC, they visited the gene bank and laboratories which were established to conserve local genetic resources for fundamental development and future food security.

The Minister and her team were in Bhutan from 9^th till the 14^th of September 2009 and their visits were coordinated by the Ministry of Information and Communication. The team left Bhutan today. 

Reported by Tshering Doma, ICS

Pictures by ICS