What we do
Food Emergency in the Agricultural Villages of Ura, Bhutan – Covid-19
Countries
Fields of intervention
- Opening date: February 2023
- Closing date: May 2024
WHERE
Bhutan, Bumthang District, Ura County
CONTEXT
The COVID-19 emergency had a severe and immediate impact on the national economy. As a very small country, this translated almost instantly into food supply shortages. In rural areas, many people who had returned from India found themselves out of work, and with the complete halt of tourism, the economic situation deteriorated sharply. Many households were left in conditions of extreme poverty and malnutrition, and despite government efforts, the food security situation continued to worsen over time. The project focuses on two pillars: strengthening agricultural activities, and supporting health services by equipping the local health system with the tools and resources needed to contain the consequences of a COVID resurgence or other highly transmissible diseases.
OBJECTIVES
General objective
Improve the living conditions of the population of Ura County in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specific objective
Strengthen the response capacity of the population and the local hospital to disease outbreaks and improve the productive capacity of farmers in Ura County
ACTIVITIES
- Selection of beneficiaries, establishment of a project committee and coordination of project activities
- Organisation of distributions in collaboration with the Ura County government, the Nyo Foundation, and the county's Agriculture and Health departments
- Procurement of agricultural tools, power tillers, greenhouses and equipment for fruit and vegetable stands
- Training of 12 farmer groups, each comprising 15 young people (at least 50% women), through three training courses covering greenhouse vegetable management, organic farming techniques, and post-harvest conservation and marketing of horticultural produce
- Strengthening of the local health system and hygiene and health awareness activities
- Activity monitoring and final reporting
BENEFICIARIES
Through the activities carried out to date, 673 families have been reached: 308 families received food assistance; 84 farming families received greenhouses, tools and seeds along with training on greenhouse management and cultivation; and 281 families were reached through health and awareness-raising activities. This amounts to a total of 2,692 people, predominantly farmers.
PARTNERS
Druk Nyo Foundation