On October 4, 2024, Ms. Pongthanapanich Tiparat, an FAO Aquaculture Expert, presented a detailed debrief following her field visit to Bhutan from September 16 to 22 to the Department of Livestock. The visit, organized by the Department of Livestock (DoL), supported by FAO, focused on assessing the aquaculture component of FAOโs Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP 3903) and identifying areas for further development, particularly in trout and carp farming.
During her visit, Ms. Tiparat observed Bhutanโs significant potential for aquaculture growth but noted key challenges in infrastructure, seed quality, and local fish feed production. To address these, she recommended establishing local feed production facilities to reduce dependency on expensive imports, which currently limit the profitability and scalability of aquaculture operations in Bhutan. This would enable farmers to access high-quality, affordable feed and foster sustainable growth within the sector.
Additionally, Ms. Tiparat emphasized the importance of improving fish seed (fingerlings) quality, particularly at government hatcheries, to prevent inbreeding and ensure the availability of high-quality fingerlings. She also advocated for the development of national aquaculture guidelines, in line with Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP), to ensure sustainable farming methods and compliance with international standards. This would be especially critical for Bhutanโs efforts to enter high-value export markets.
A key strategic initiative discussed was the Chirup Farm concept, which aims to support small-scale, subsistence farmers in transitioning to commercially viable operations. This approach would involve building model farms and promoting collaboration between government entities, the private sector, and local farmers to create a robust aquaculture business ecosystem in Bhutan, covering everything from input supply to post-harvest processing.
Moving forward, the DoL and FAO will work together to develop detailed plans focusing on capacity building, sustainable feed and seed production, and strengthening Bhutanโs aquaculture industry, with the goal of ensuring long-term growth and sustainability.
