GPI Atlantic Activities in the Kingdom of Bhutan

Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative

Samdrup Jongkhar, in south-eastern Bhutan, is the site of an ambitious project to put GNH into living practice and action. In line with the Royal Government of Bhutan’s commitment to become 100% organic in food production, the intent is for Samdrup Jongkhar to become the first large region to be fully organic as a model for the rest of the country. In addition to organic farmer trainings undertaken by Navdanya, the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative (SJI) has worked closely with the Jigme Namgyel Polytechnic to establish a new Centre for Appropriate Technology that has already initiated a major solar drier project and will start a rainwater harvesting project in 2012. Youth and zero waste initiatives are also under way.

GPI Atlantic senior researcher Linda Pannozzo led a major research project to compile a detailed Samdrup Jongkhar Profile, bringing together all known statistical information on the region (published and unpublished) and field research, as an evidence base for the SJI. Researcher Emily Green-Tracewicz is in the second year of a three-year research project to begin tracking and documenting Samdrup Jongkhar’s transition to organic agriculture.

For the draft Samdrup Jongkhar Profile and Appendix, please see below. For other documentation and media clippings on the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative, please see www.sji.bt.

Profile of Samdrup Jongkhar 8Mb PDF | Appendices 2Mb PDF