We are losing our agricultural land at a very fast rate. Driven by GDP and propelled by ever increasing population, people moving towards the town and cities are increasing at a very fast rate. Government is planning for larger cities but it comes at the cost of our valued agricultural land.
Bhutan has only 3% of its land under arable conditions. Others are mountains, slopes higher than 30% gradient and forest covering more than 72%. Yet people are enjoying a prosperous and happy life in the land of GNH. More than 80% of the population happily works on their ancestral land inherited generations to generations. But it seems we are losing our minds of propelling towards self sufficiency.
Bhutan is a landlocked country situated between two giants in term of population, size, power and economy. Country depends heavenly on neighboring countries especially in the south due to advantage of geographical and political situations.
Our plans are toothless without funds from India and we are crippled in times of food and commodity crisis. But till when are we going to be the same? Rupee crisis caught us pretty well and it has hit hard on our head. Now the political trauma of Sino-Bhutanese boundary is clear slap on our face. Yet we are lost in the midst of acquiring lands (farm lands) for expansion of cities and towns. We have lost more than 70% of the agriculture land in Thimphu and lose some valuable lands every year for developmental activities. We have heard stories from the far flung villages regarding the human-wildlife conflict and natural disasters destroying the crops are not far behind. While we lose 1/5 of the total production to such disasters and conflicts, developmental activities are catalyst to such activities. Science believes that human wildlife conflicts are the results of human activities such as encroachment and wild fires. The deep rooted developmental activities such as construction of roads and expansion of towns are inevitable, but we have the capacity to spare those farm lands both in the interest of self sufficiency and national goal of gross national happiness. Furthermore, the tax imposed on those lands falling under the township is ten folds higher than normal rural taxation system. An acre of land in the rural community having to pay only one tenth of their income needs to pay all their total income as a tax for the piece of land.
Land pooling and land substitution are not at all a better means for the poor farmers. If government has enough land to be given as substitutes and enough money to buy those productive lands, why can't we generate enough funds to shape those lands that are not available for agriculture for town developments?
I asked a senior government official regarding sustainability of such actions on our society and he was bold enough to say sustainability is not just protecting our environment. For this I must answer that its no either destruction of our farmlands for concrete mushrooms. We are highly appreciated for our natural forests and environment. The vision of our fourth king and mandated in constitution of Bhutan to maintain minimum of 60% forest cover was a profound wisdom that shapes our country. While we have more than 70% forest cover, we still plant trees on the state owned lands (although all lands belong to state) and convert agriculture lands into towns. Ever five years, our priority changes with the changing government but i believe we must maintain our goals and aims similar all the time although means of achieving may change from party to party. Best political party is those who roots gross national happiness and developments accordingly. Let BHUTAN live long with Gross national happiness. let no giddiness and helplessness due to irritating political functioning of those erotic parties prevail in this SHANGRILA .
Bhutan has only 3% of its land under arable conditions. Others are mountains, slopes higher than 30% gradient and forest covering more than 72%. Yet people are enjoying a prosperous and happy life in the land of GNH. More than 80% of the population happily works on their ancestral land inherited generations to generations. But it seems we are losing our minds of propelling towards self sufficiency.
Bhutan is a landlocked country situated between two giants in term of population, size, power and economy. Country depends heavenly on neighboring countries especially in the south due to advantage of geographical and political situations.
Our plans are toothless without funds from India and we are crippled in times of food and commodity crisis. But till when are we going to be the same? Rupee crisis caught us pretty well and it has hit hard on our head. Now the political trauma of Sino-Bhutanese boundary is clear slap on our face. Yet we are lost in the midst of acquiring lands (farm lands) for expansion of cities and towns. We have lost more than 70% of the agriculture land in Thimphu and lose some valuable lands every year for developmental activities. We have heard stories from the far flung villages regarding the human-wildlife conflict and natural disasters destroying the crops are not far behind. While we lose 1/5 of the total production to such disasters and conflicts, developmental activities are catalyst to such activities. Science believes that human wildlife conflicts are the results of human activities such as encroachment and wild fires. The deep rooted developmental activities such as construction of roads and expansion of towns are inevitable, but we have the capacity to spare those farm lands both in the interest of self sufficiency and national goal of gross national happiness. Furthermore, the tax imposed on those lands falling under the township is ten folds higher than normal rural taxation system. An acre of land in the rural community having to pay only one tenth of their income needs to pay all their total income as a tax for the piece of land.
Land pooling and land substitution are not at all a better means for the poor farmers. If government has enough land to be given as substitutes and enough money to buy those productive lands, why can't we generate enough funds to shape those lands that are not available for agriculture for town developments?
I asked a senior government official regarding sustainability of such actions on our society and he was bold enough to say sustainability is not just protecting our environment. For this I must answer that its no either destruction of our farmlands for concrete mushrooms. We are highly appreciated for our natural forests and environment. The vision of our fourth king and mandated in constitution of Bhutan to maintain minimum of 60% forest cover was a profound wisdom that shapes our country. While we have more than 70% forest cover, we still plant trees on the state owned lands (although all lands belong to state) and convert agriculture lands into towns. Ever five years, our priority changes with the changing government but i believe we must maintain our goals and aims similar all the time although means of achieving may change from party to party. Best political party is those who roots gross national happiness and developments accordingly. Let BHUTAN live long with Gross national happiness. let no giddiness and helplessness due to irritating political functioning of those erotic parties prevail in this SHANGRILA .
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