Processing of cheese at Gogona

Dozan distillers with members of Bio Bhutan and local officials

Zhemgang farmers

Farmer Groups

In line with our goal of improving income and employment opportunities for farmer groups we work closely with three farmer groups for producing four products. The three farmer groups that we currently collaborate with are: the Milk Processing Unit in Gogona; the Dozam Community Forestry Group in Mongar; and the Pipla Management Group in Zhemgang.

The Milk Processing Unit (MPU) in Gogona

The community of Gogona is located in Western Bhutan.In March 2004, a community organized Milk Processing Unit(MPU) was established with support from the Department of Livestock of the Ministry of Agriculture in Bhutan, the German Technical Co-operation(GTZ) and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.Almost all households of the Gogona Community contribute to the MPU.Each household sells milk to the MPU for processing of cheese and other products. A management committee consisting of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Messenger manages the group’s activities.

Gogona MPU produces an agerage of 200 kg of cheese per month in winter and 400 kg per month in summer.In discussion with the Department of Livestock and the Gogona MPU, Bio Bhutan became the sole marketing agent of the cheese in August, 2005. With the efforts of Bio Bhutan, organic certification of the MPU was initiated in 2005. It is anticipated that the Gogona dairy farm and cheese will be certified organic by INDOCERT in accordance to the EU standards by early 2007.

Dozam Community Forestry Management Group

Established in 1996, the Dozam Community Forest is the oldest Community Forest in Bhutan. It has a total of 114 member households from 5 different villages. Located at Dramitse in the district of Mongar, Eastern Bhutan the CF covers an area of 358 ha. Lemon grass oil distillation is an important income generating activity in Eastern Bhutan. Five farmers within the Dozam Community Forest Management Group distill lemon grass oil and employ approximately 50 other farmers for grass and firewood collection and operation of the distillation unit.

The collaboration between Bio Bhutan and the Dozam farmers was initiated in 2004. Since 2005 Bio Bhutan has been purchasing oil from the Dozam distillers by paying premium prices. The Dozam lemon grass oil was certified organic in accordance with the EU standards by INDOCERT in January 2006. Distillers and laborers of the 5 distillation units in Dozam are trained on annual basis by Bio Bhutan on the standards and requirements of organic certification.

Pipla Management Group

The Pipla Management Group was established in 2004. This Group has a total of 107 member households from four villages. These four villages are located in Nangkor geog under Zhemgang Dzongkhag in South Central Bhutan. The main objective of the Management Group is the sustainable management of pipla (Piper pedicellatum) and increased income for the local communities from the sale of the pipla.

In an effort to benefit the people of Nangkor and promote a Bhutanese product, Bio Bhutan is looking for markets for the pipla. To enhance the value of the plant, organic certification of the pipla growing areas was initiated in early 2005 and an organic certificate for the pipla of Nangkor was obtained from INDOCERT in January, 2006.