Punakha-Wangdi Phodrang Valley Development Project

The objectives of the project were to:

• improve agricultural production in irrigated and permanently cropped rainfed areas
• increase livestock productivity, especially for milk
• strengthen support services such as applied research, extension and rural credit
• protect the agricultural and natural environment through pilot activities in soil erosion control and village forestry

To develop irrigation, the project provided support for renovation of 30 main irrigation systems. To control soil erosion, it supported villages and village groups committed to control of erosion, protection of irrigation channels and terraced fields, and rehabilitation of damaged areas. The project also provided support for technical assistance. Rural infrastructure development was another feature of project activities. The project supported agricultural extension activities, adaptive research and training.

In the livestock and agroforestry sectors, the project provided support for breed improvement and an animal health programme, as well as for improvements in planting fuelwood species. It included support for training, rural credit, institutional capacity-building, and marketing and project management.

Source: IFAD