Organic Agriculture Development Strategies: Roadmap for 12th Five Year Plan and Beyond

Bhutan’s stated vision is to go 100% organic by 2020. However, given the compulsions of ensuring food security and a desire to attain import substitution in agriculture, this vision demands a serious reappraisal. On a pragmatic level, given that there are only about three years to go, achieving this target holistically and systematically is unlikely, or practical. Aiming for a 100% organic agriculture is impractical in the short- to medium-term, especially given the significant challenges involved, including the fact that Bhutan currently imports about 50% of its food requirements. Nevertheless, it is feasible to move towards an agriculture that is predominantly organic, particularly in selected crops and agro-ecological settings, promoted in a phased manner and over a long-term framework.