The JICA Bhutan Office handed over the Effective Microorganism Technology (EMT) model poultry farm and facilities including the EM activator plant and equipment in Tsirang to the Department of Livestock (DoL) on January 14.
The project titled ‘Effective Microorganism Technology in a poultry farm in Tsirang- A collaborative project between the Department of Livestock and Miyagi Farm Co., Okinawa, Japan’ was implemented for three years starting from 2019 with technical expertise and fund support from Miyagi Farm Co. and JICA. The project was aimed to introduce the EM solution technologies in poultry farming as an intervention to increase production efficiency, explore avenues to utilize local resources for poultry feed production and improve farm management practices through training and on-farm exposure trip of poultry farmers to the model farm.
The farm has been functioning as a knowledge and demonstration center after its operation since March 2020 where the poultry farmers from in and around Tsirang and students visit to learn about the EM application in poultry farming and its best management practices.
During the handing-taking ceremony, Dr. Tashi Yangzome Dorji, the Director for DoL thanked JICA and Miyagi Farm for the significant support in ensuring the EM technology works well in the Bhutanese farming context. She also thanked the Japanese team for training the poultry farmers and livestock officials on the EM solution application and farm management practices. She reiterated that such interventions will go a long way in revolutionizing the poultry industry as clean and odourless farming to engage youths in Bhutan.
Considering the production efficiency in poultry farming from the application of EM solution, the DoL shall replicate the technology in other Dzongkhags with continued technical and financial support from JICA and Miyagi Farm.
Mr. WANTANABE Kozo, the Chief Representative of JICA Bhutan Office expressed his deep appreciation to DoL and Miyagi Farm for implementing the project successfully despite the COVID19 pandemic. He informed that JICA shall continue to support the Department and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests in the best possible way to sustain the project impact and replicate the technology in other Dzongkhags.
The ceremony was also attended by officials from the JICA Bhutan Office and DoL. It was attended virtually by officials from the Miyagi Farm Co., JICA office Okinawa in Japan, Dzongkhag Livestock Officer and the EMT model farm.
Submitted by Department of Livestock
