Birkha Bahadur Gurung, a resident of Sampenling village in Jellephu town, Bhutan, has been passionate about farming since childhood. While working as a school teacher, he and his wife ventured into floriculture in 2015. What started as a mere hobby soon turned into a necessity when Birkha realized that his teaching salary was insufficient to meet the family’s needs. Determined to bridge the gap, he transformed their small-scale floriculture into a full-fledged business. His wife, formerly a homemaker, took the lead in managing their nursery, while Birkha balanced farming alongside his teaching duties.
As their floriculture business flourished, they expanded into bonsai cultivation—a decision that brought them unexpected recognition. Their nursery caught the attention of the King of Bhutan, who personally visited and praised their efforts, offering words of encouragement. Inspired by this royal acknowledgment, Birkha and his wife scaled up their farming operations. However, the arrival of COVID-19 posed significant challenges, severely impacting their sales and forcing them to explore new agricultural ventures.
A New Inspiration From Assam
During the pandemic, Birkha turned to YouTube for new farming ideas. It was through these online searches that he first learned about dragon fruit farming. In Bhutan, dragon fruit was rare, with only a few varieties available. His interest deepened when he came across Akbar Bhai, a farmer from Assam who was successfully cultivating dragon fruit. Intrigued by Akbar Bhai’s work, Birkha decided to visit his farm. The session proved to be a turning point in his life.
Akbar Bhai not only did motivate Birkha but also gave him priceless advice and saplings. With 800 saplings in his hand, Birkha went back to Bhutan and began his dragon fruit farm. The early outcome was good, and he witnessed good growth on his farm. Motivated by the success, he expanded his farm to an acre of land and is soon going to expand it further.
Diversified Farming for Sustainable Development
Birkha and his wife have established a well-diversified farm in addition to dragon fruit. They have seven different kinds of dragon fruit plants, such as Siam Red, Red Velvet, Pink Rose, Moroccan Red, Vietnamese Red, Jumbo Red, Israeli Yellow, and Georges White.
Besides dragon fruit, they also pursue floriculture with flowers such as Bougainvillea, Snake Plant, Peace Lily, and seasonal blooms. Fruit trees such as mango, lychee, and macadamia nuts are also found on their farm.
Livestock farming is another integral aspect of their business. They have eight Jersey cows and 28 goats, which are used for a dual purpose—milk and manure. Although some of the milk is used at home, the remaining is sold in the market. Their animals also contribute to soil fertility since cow and goat manure is used to fertilize the farm, thus less reliance on chemical fertilizers. They also keep four pigs, which contribute to their farm's autonomy, with some meat being processed for sale while the rest is eaten by the family.
Challenges and Future Aspirations
One of the greatest challenges of dragon fruit cultivation in Bhutan is market awareness. Dragon fruit being a new crop in the nation, there is not much local demand. To make it known to the people, Birkha gave away his initial harvest for free to family, friends, and religious organizations. He hopes this will raise awareness and ultimately create a market for his crop.
His vision for the next few years is to increase his cultivation of dragon fruit while encouraging sustainable agriculture. By using organic manure from his animals, he hopes to enhance soil fertility and save money, making it sustainable in the long run. With the production of dragon fruit likely to rise, he believes that his earnings will increase substantially.
Birkha Bahadur Gurung's story is an example of how knowledge exchange among farmers can create new possibilities. His shift from floriculture to dragon fruit cultivation was prompted by an Assam farmer, proving that there is learning from others that can revolutionize farming practices.
Birkha Bahadur Gurung's journey from a school teacher to a successful and innovative farmer highlights the power of resilience, learning, and adaptation. By diversifying his farm with dragon fruit, floriculture, fruit trees, and livestock, he has created a sustainable agricultural model that not only boosts his family’s income but also promotes eco-friendly practices.
With an annual income of Rs 5-6 lakh, Birkha is determined to expand his dragon fruit cultivation and continue advocating for sustainable farming in Bhutan. His story serves as a beacon of inspiration for farmers seeking to diversify their crops, embrace organic methods, and achieve long-term agricultural success.
