The week long training on Sustainable Land Management (SLM) for the RNR staff and Geog Administrative Officers (GAOs) of Pemagatshel Dzongkhag started from 17^th February 2010 at the DYT Hall of Pemagatshel Dzongkhag. During the opening ceremony of the training program, Dasho Dzongdag was the chief guest along with Dzongkhag RNR sector heads. During the opening remarks, Dasho mentioned that such training on SLM is very timely and important for the RNR staff and GAOs of the Dzongkhag. He mentioned that even though there is not much physical land degradation occurring in the Dzongkhag, surface erosion in the farmers’ field is very prominent and extensive which leads to poor soil fertility and lower crop yield. Dasho also mentioned that the Land Management Campaign in 2005 has created a lot of awareness amongst the farmers on the importance of SLM through actual demonstration of SLM measures in the farmers’ fields. Since LMC was discontinued since 2008 due to other reasons, he believes that the Ministry of Agriculture should continue organizing the campaigns in the near future as it very effective in sensitizing the local communities on SLM.

To the training participants, Dasho mentioned that it is a very good opportunity for them to attend such important training on SLM. He urged that they should take full advantage of the opportunity and try to learn as much as possible on different aspects of SLM through very active participation both in theory and practical sessions.  He also said that the participants should take up some important SLM measures in their respective Geogs after the training.

The week long training on SLM is mainly aimed at providing hands on training on SLM Techniques and Approaches to the participants to better assist the farmers to combat land degradation in their respective Geogs. There are 47 participants in total (15 Agriculture staff, 13 Foresters, 8 livestock staff and 11 GAOs) attending the training. The week long SLM training began on 17^th Feb 2010 and would be concluded by 23^rd Feb 2010.

The training is organized and conducted by the National Soil Services Centre (NSSC) under the Department of Agriculture with financial support from the Sustainable Land Management Project (GEF/WB funded) based at NSSC, Semtokha. Starting from 26^th – 4^th March 2010, a similar training on SLM shall be conducted for the RNR staff and GAOs of Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag at RNR-EC, Orong Geog.