In an effort to boost agricultural production and food security, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) and the National Land Commission Secretariat (NLCS) have identified 11,557 acres of land across eight districts in Bhutan that are suitable for large-scale farming. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to maximize the use of the country’s limited arable land.
Over the past five years, the NLCS has approved 274 land lease applications, with 70 more currently under review. However, pressure on land from infrastructure projects and urban expansion continues to pose challenges. Bhutan has only 7 percent of its land as arable, and much of this land faces difficulties such as poor soil quality, human-wildlife conflict, and water shortages. In addition, some arable land remains fallow, with only around 190,000 acres actively cultivated.
According to MoAL Secretary Thinley Namgyel, inefficient land use and the limited availability of arable land are contributing factors to discrepancies in land use. The government is exploring ways to utilize state, fallow, and dratshang land for large-scale agricultural projects, with a particular focus on high-value agricultural products as outlined in Bhutan’s Agrifood Sector Strategy 2034.
The government has identified land in districts like Chukha, Dagana, Samtse, and Wangdue, with criteria such as altitude, slope, and size being key factors. However, only 4,909 acres of the identified land are outside biological corridors and thus available for farming. Some projects, such as large-scale commercial farming in Wangdue and the development of chirub farms in Pemathang and Samrang, are already underway.
As the NLCS works to resolve land use conflicts, the government remains committed to making the most of its limited arable land, ensuring that agricultural projects align with long-term sustainability goals and economic viability.
