Bhutan is one of the three pilot countries covered by the European Commision funded project Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Intelligence - Science-Policy Interface (SASi-SPi). The objective is to support the sustainable transformation of national agrifood systems, using a specific transition challenge as a starting point and a bottom-up participatory approach. In the case of Bhutan, a significant challenge identified with the government is attracting youth to agriculture in a context marked by constrained opportunities.
Youth unemployment, migration, and limited economic prospects in rural areas hinder the sector’s growth. These challenges are further compounded by climate vulnerability and poverty, affecting rural livelihoods and the agrifood economy. The project intends to strengthen Bhutan’s efforts to transition toward sustainable agri-food systems, with particular attention to making the sector more appealing to youth while engaging with local and national public and private stakeholders.
From November 12–14, 2024, the SASi-SPi Agrinatura team organized a two-and-a-half-day methodological workshop in Thimphu to present and validate a participatory and inclusive methodology to design pathways to overcome the identified challenge. The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the FAO Country Office, and local partners such as the College of Natural Resources, the Tarayana Foundation, and the Bhutan Ecological Society.
The workshop introduced stakeholders to the SASi-SPi framework, and the main steps of the methodology to be applied to design pathways to overcome the identified challenge. It also provided a space to discuss and collect participants’ insights on the transition challenge (barriers like migration, limited land access, and low social recognition of farming), districts to be targeted for action-research, as well as best practices in engaging with local stakeholders and communication preferences among young people (e.g. platforms such as WeChat and Telegram for outreach). In addition, bilateral discussions with the Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship and Tarayana Foundation emphasized the importance of youth employment and collaborative partnerships.
Seven districts were shortlisted for research on transitioning agrifood systems, based on criteria such as poverty rates, youth unemployment, migration trends, climate vulnerability, and proximity to facilities. Local government authorities in Paro, a potential target district, were engaged to gain their support. Their positive reception underscored the importance of community-driven solutions.
Following the workshop, the team travelled to Paro district and explored the entrepreneurial landscape by visiting Laykha Dairy Delights, a small dairy processing plant. Laykha Dairy Delights, established in 2018, began with a vision to create local employment and value-added dairy products for Bhutan's growing market. Run by a young entrepreneur, the plant fosters a close-knit network of smallholder farmers by sourcing milk locally, staying connected via WeChat, and holding regular factory meetings to share feedback and strengthen relationships. Despite its success, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Retaining youth employees proved difficult, with most leaving after only seven months. Yet, Laykha Dairy Delights presses on, driven by a mission to not only create quality products but to spark a larger change in Bhutan’s agricultural landscape. Its efforts show how small enterprises, blending technology and tradition, can redefine rural livelihoods and make agriculture more appealing to young people.
Stakeholder engagement was a cornerstone of the mission, with consultations extending from national to district levels. The mission successfully secured government and stakeholder confirmation on the primary transition challenge: making the agrifood system more attractive to youth. This validation paves the way for research and pilot projects in selected districts. Next steps include:
By focusing on these areas, the SASi-SPi project aims to transform Bhutan’s agrifood systems into inclusive, sustainable, and youth-friendly models, contributing to broader socio-economic and environmental goals.