𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲

A three day writeshop on the Rainbow Trout Production and Extension Manual is in progress in Haa from 8-10 December 2025. The workshop brings together technical officials from national aquaculture and fisheries centres to consolidate emerging standards for cold water aquaculture in Bhutan. The 13th Five Year Plan highlights diversification of the livestock sector, development of high value products, enhancement of rural incomes, and strengthening of climate responsive agricultural systems. Within this national framework, the Department of Livestock has identified aquaculture development as a strategic priority to expand domestic fish production, improve nutritional security, and create new income opportunities for rural communities. The manual is being developed to advance these priorities by providing clear technical guidance that can increase aquaculture outputs, strengthen technical services, and promote sustainable use of natural resources.

The manual is being designed as an operational reference for Livestock Supervisors involved in field and central programs. It brings together current technical knowledge on habitat conditions, development stages, production systems, feeding strategies, biosecurity measures, and other essential considerations required for efficient and dependable production. It is also being shaped to support both technical staff and aspiring rainbow trout farmers with practical tools and decision making frameworks that can guide implementation on the ground.

In addition, the manual is being structured to provide comprehensive guidance for establishing and technically designing rainbow trout farms. This includes engineering specifications, layout templates, and operational workflow models suited to Bhutan’s hydrological conditions. The development process is being carried out jointly by technical officials from the Department of Livestock, the National Livestock Research Centre, the National Development Centre for Aquaculture, and the National Research Development Centre for Riverine and Lake Fisheries as the technical lead. The initiative is funded by FAO Bhutan through FAO TCP 3903 Output 3, enabling the incorporation of international best practices while ensuring relevance to national development goals and aquaculture realities.