National News

…𝒐𝒏-𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒚𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆 By Kinzang Lhamo Upland rice cultivation is emerging as a viable solution to enhance rice production in Bhutan, particularly in regions with limited irrigation. Recognized for its role in reducing rice imports by 30–50 percent in areas where it is cultivated, upland rice offers an adaptive …

…𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 By Kinzang Lhamo The Haa Spring Festival, now in its second year as a springtime event, is poised to be the grandest and most impactful edition yet. With a renewed focus on Haa’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, this year’s celebration aims …

…𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒃𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 By Kezang Choden In an effort to curb the growing threat of drug and substance abuse among youth, the Dzongdag of Mongar, Lungten Jamtsho, visited Ridaza Primary School alongside a team of officials to raise awareness on the issue. The visit, part of a broader initiative targeting all schools …

By Tashi Tshewang On March 31, a significant milestone was achieved for the development of Pemagatshel as the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, who also serves as the Minister In-charge of the Dzongkhag, inaugurated three key infrastructure projects during his two-day visit. These projects include the newly blacktopped Khothakpa-Khar road under Project Dantak, the commencement of construction on the Denchhi-Khar …

By Kezang ChodenIn an effort to enhance road safety and reduce traffic-related incidents, the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA) has been conducting road safety awareness and sensitization programs across multiple dzongkhags. These initiatives aim to educate drivers and pedestrians on crucial safety measures, promote responsible driving habits, and address key concerns such as overloading and distracted driving. One of …

Last week, I visited a karaoke bar in Thimphu, and what I witnessed there left me not only baffled but deeply concerned about the direction our youth seem to be heading. The scene was alarming- young girls, most of them barely out of their twenties, working in an environment that posed significant risks to their physical and mental health. They …

By Kinzang Lhamo According to the Population and Housing Census of Bhutan (PHCB) 2017, hearing was the second-highest form of disability in Bhutan. To address hearing disabilities, the Ministry of Health, with support from the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD), launched the “Hear, Listen, and Speak” program in 2021. This ongoing initiative aligns with the national rollout of …

By Lhendup Wangmo The persistent drinking water crisis in Tsirang Toed Gewog is finally being addressed through a new project that is nearly halfway complete. The initiative aims to provide a consistent water supply to the gewog and neighboring Pungtenchhu Gewog, benefiting approximately 8,500 people. The water is sourced from downstream of Dhap Tsho, situated about 28 kilometers from the …

By Sonam Choden For generations, pineapple farming has been a staple of this region, providing both sustenance and income to local farmers. However, while the fruit itself holds considerable economic value, its leaves have long been discarded as agricultural waste. That is, until one entrepreneur saw potential in what others overlooked. Tashi Wangchuk, an innovative entrepreneur, is spearheading a groundbreaking …

…𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍’𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒔. By Tashi TshewangThe Taba Riverbanks, located in a rapidly expanding suburb of the capital city with increasing housing developments and settlements, are facing a severe environmental crisis as pollution levels continue to rise. Residents and environmentalists are sounding alarms over …