On 9 November 2020, the OGOP product development training for the year of 2020 under the OGOP Model II Project has kicked off in Haa Dzongkhag.  The training was co-organised by the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and the Queen’s Project Office (QPO), Bhutan as project’s partner agencies with support from the Chiang Mai Ratchabhat University (CMRU), Thailand on technical assistance including packaging design.

The training took place according to the Project’s workplan which aims to help the 6 target communities in Haa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Lhuntse, Trashi Yangtse and Trongsa Dzongkhags develop community OGOP products based on their respective potentials. Annually, the target is for each community to develop 2 OGOP products throughout the 3-year project’s timeframe (2019-2022).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet in order to keep the project’s momentum, the planned schedule for individual communities and modalities of the said activity had been adjusted to take place during the months of November – December this year as follows:

• Virtual: On day 1 - CMRU experts train 5 Bhutanese Training of Trainers (TOTs) from each community including staff from QPO, National Post-Harvest Center of Bhutan, related local agencies, and local SMART leaders/farmers
• Onsite: On day 2 and 3 - TOTs train community farmers/residents in the respective 6 communities of upto 30 people in total.

In realising the Project’s overall goal in strengthening Bhutanese community towards sustainable development in the target areas, community’s participation and ownership are considered key. In doing so, as part of this activity, all the 6 participating communities were asked to select 2 of their OGOP products using community meeting platform. Products’ demand and supply have been taken into consideration in order to find the ‘best fit’ products according to respective community potentials. These may include, among others, availability of equipment and machinery, raw materials, target customers/market and market’s expectation on the product quality.

Link to photos taken during the training:

Eusu Gewog, Haa Dzongkhag (9-11 November 2020) : caciocavallo cheese (italian cheese) and kapche (wheat flour) https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=ticacooperation&set=a.1505815322944153

Patshaling Gewog, Tsirang Dzongkhag (14-16 November 2020): yacon juice and beewax lipbalm https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1507269772798708&type=3&uploaded=7

Phobji and Gangtey Gewogs, Wangdue Phodrang (23-25 November 2020) : buckwheat noodles, potato soft cookies https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ticacooperation&set=a.1513605628831789

Khoma Gewog, Lhuntse (30 November – 2 December 2020) : products from traditional textiles https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ticacooperation&set=a.1519312071594478

Yangtse and Boomdeling Gewogs, Trashiyangtse (5-7 December 2020) : urka chilli paste, crispy urka chilli snacks https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1527829234076095&type=3&uploaded=12

Drakten Gewog, Trongsa (12 – 14 December 2020) : Infused green tea, and other green tea products (hand soap, dish detergent, air freshener) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=ticacooperation&set=a.1538335549692130

(Note: upcoming activities will be updated accordingly.)