The Nursery farm was known as East-West Nursery during its inception in 2009. It rather started as a small-scale and research-based production on a 0.50 acre of land in Bemina village, Nobgang Chiwog, Talo Gewog, Punakha. After the initial two years of operation, based on experiences gained and research, the name of the nursery was changed to Druk Shingthog Gongphel Nursery.
The size of the operation also expanded from 0.50 acres to two and half acres. The expansion of site was done in Chortentsawa(just below Talog Gewog Administration), Nobgang Chiwog, Talog.
Upon feedback and suggestions from valuable customers and plant enthusiasts nearby and beyond, in November 2021 the name of the nursery farm was changed to BHUTAN SEEDLINGS. Along with changes in its name, the farm had also launched various platforms to reach our services and news to every nook and corner of the country.
VISIONS
For catering the demands and needs of the consumers efficiently and effectively while it will also continue creating job opportunities and in a small way, curb rural-urban migration.
It is also intended to contribute to sustainable conservation and promotion of horticultural fruits and ornamental diversity of both exotic and indigenous species in Bhutan which aids to enhance food security through introduction of high quality horticultural fruits.
MISSION
“To Maintain National Standards of seeds and Seedlings within the Country”.
Promoters & Founders
The enterprise is registered and operates under the name of Ms. Sangay Cheki, from Decheling Gewog, Nganglam Drungkhag, Pemagatshel Dzongkhag. She has 17 years of experience in the field of agriculture farming, agri-business, and social work. She graduated with a certificate level qualification in Nursery Management from Rural Development Training Center, Zhemgang, Bhutan.
Mr. Rinchen Pelzang, Agriculturist and Extensionist by profession with 15 years of experience under the Royal Government of Bhutan and other institutions in the field of agri-business, agriculture extension, research, seeds and saplings production, plant propagation, plant breeding, project management, Royal orchard, environment conservation, organic agriculture, smart agriculture/livestock, post-harvest management, social activist, social workers, local government administration, district administration, NGOs, and Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI). He is also an active member of Horticulture Association of Bhutan and a board of director for the association.
After completion of higher secondary school in biological sciences, he had undergone a Diploma and Bachelor of Sciences in Agriculture from the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan. Then, he studied for the Post Graduate Diploma in horticulture science at International Agriculture Training Center, Ruppin Academic Center, Israel. He had also undergone so many short-term courses within Bhutan and abroad such as in the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, and Thailand. He has also completed Master of Arts in Development Studies at Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Farm Structures, Farm Staffs, and Mother Block
We are trying our best to meet the national standards of operating the nursery farm. We have four greenhouses, one screen house, three shedding stores, two material stores, farm types of machinery (mini-power tiller, grass cutting machine, and chemical spraying machine), farm staffs’ residence, and other basic tools and equipment.
Currently, the farm has seven permanent staff including two promoters. During the peak seasons, the farm does recruit 7-10 additional temporary farm workers for two to three months.
We have well-established mother blocks for temperate fruit plants such as:
Similarly, we have also some subtropical fruit plants such as:
- avocado,
- Cardammon
- grapes,
- pomegranate,
- guava, chestnuts, mangoes, loquat, etc.