Offtg. Secretary Mr. Karma Dukpa with participants from different offices  

The stem rust in wheat called, “Ug99” was first outbreak in Uganda, Africa in 1999. It is spread by wind and poses a new and heightened risk to the wheat production in Asia. According to the global wind models, this disease may next spread into Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and then to Bhutan.

As a follow up on “SAARC declaration to combat wheat stem rust Ug99” (extraordinary meeting of SAARC Agriculture Ministers held in New Delhi on 5^th November 2009) and “Delhi declaration on wheat stem rust Ug99 (International Conference on Ug99" in New Delhi), the Council of RNR Research of Bhutan (CoRRB) is organising a three-day workshop starting from the 24^th till 26^th November 2009 at the conference hall of the National Soil Service Centre, Thimphu.

The participants included officials from the four RCs-Yusipang, Bajo, Wengkhar and Jakar; National Plant Protection Centre, National Biodiversity Centre, Policy and Planning Division, Druk Seed Corporation, Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority along with the representatives from Haa, Bumthang, Samtse, Wangdi, Chukha, Mongar, Trashigang, Dagana and Gasa.

Speaking at the opening, the Offtg. MoA Secretary, Mr. Karma Drukpa said that the cereal crops are vital component to enhance self-sufficiency and food security of the Bhutanese people. He informed that the RNR sector has been identified as one of the important elements to attain Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of poverty alleviation, food-sufficiency and economic growth.

He also mentioned that although, wheat is grown in 16,981 acres of land with the annual production of 8879 MT (DoA, 2007), Bhutan still imports about 9804 MT of wheat annually. “Therefore, there is a need to strongly support wheat stem rust prevention and control as a matter of national policy and international cooperation,” he added.

 Dr. Raghunathan presenting on Wheat stem rust Ug99

The workshop will sensitise participants on Ug99, develop national strategy and action plan on Ug99, build up national wheat program team and stakeholder identification; create regional and international linkage and develop contingency plans with the help of the Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO) consultant, Dr. Raghunathan who also prepared Ug99 strategy for India. The workshop will also discuss on wheat variety testing, seed multiplication and farmers education on wheat rusts.

According to Mumta Chettri from RC Yusipang, the workshop will help to prepare ourselves in dealing with Ug99 if it comes to Bhutan, although it is not yet reached Bhutan and India. She added that the strategy will include early warning system, disease surveillance, and international linkages among others. The field visits to RC-Bajo and Genekha to get farmers’ views on wheat will also be organised, she said. .

 Participants with the Consultant and the Offtg. MoA Secretary

The consultant will meet with MoA Hon’ble Minister and Hon’ble Secretary after their return from Rome and China respectively. The consultant will leave Bhutan on 30^th November 2009.

The three days workshop is being organised by CoRRB with the financial and technical support from FAO.

Reported by Tshering Doma, ICS

Photographs by Choidup Zangpo, ICS