JICA Bhutan Newsletter is a monthly newsletter published by the JICA Bhutan Office and updated electronically on the JICA Bhutan website. It serves to

better link all JICA Bhutan partners by offering briefs and current news on different sectors of JICA and the RGoB. It is for information purposes only and

is not an official document. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of JICA. To join our e-mail based subscription, please contact at

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JICA schemes

�Grant Aid

� Loan

� Technical Cooperation Projects

� Training Programmes

�Development Studies

�Emergency Disaster Relief

� Follow-up Cooperation

JICA target areas in Bhutan

�Agriculture and rural

development

� Infrastructure development

� Local governance

�Social services development

(health, education and IT)

JICA members in Bhutan as of

June 2009

� JICA office staff: 16

(7 internatonals; 9 nationals)

�Experts: 8

�Senior Volunteers: 9

� JOCVs: 31

(

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The fourth Bhutan-Japan Annual Consultation Meeting was held on August 18, 2009 in Thimphu.The Bhutanese delegation was led by Mr. Thinley Penjor, Director, Department of Bilateral Affairs,Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japanese delegation was led by Mr. Keizo Takewaka, Minister,Embassy of Japan in New Delhi.

The meeting focused on exchange of views for effective and efficient utilization of Japaneseassistance. In addition to discussions on annual need survey of Japanese assistance, talks werealso held on projects proposed under the resource gap of US $ 320 million and post flood recoveryactivities. Earlier the Government of Japan has generously promised USD 2 million for reconstruc-tion of the damages caused by Cyclone Alia in May 2009.

Mr. Thinley thanked the Government of Japan for their ever forthcoming cooperation in the spirit oftrue partnership and friendship.

Mr. Takewaka announced that the next Consultation Meeting will be hosted by the JapaneseEmbassy at New Delhi. He said that it would more suitable to have the meeting in the beginning ofAugust before the need survey request.

With the success of the “Agriculture Research and Extension SupportProject in Lhuntse and Mongar”, the Government of Bhutan submittedrequest for a technical cooperation project on “Horticulture research andDevelopment” to further expand the project area in next 5 years. In re-sponse, JICA has dispatched the preliminary study mission to Bhutanfrom August 23 to September 16, 2009. The mission made field visitsand held extensive discussions with the government officials, agricultureextension officers, researchers, farmers and other developmentorganizations.

The Minutes of Meeting was signed on September 9, 2009 at Thimphubetween the Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and the mission leader. Itis expected that the project will act as precursor for a major commercial-

ization of horticulture products in the near future.

JICA Bhutan Office

Monthly Newsletter

September 2009

Vol. 09-9

News in Brief

Turning vegetable waste into beneficial compost

� Three JOCV members completed their assignments in Bhutan and left for Japan:

1) Ms. Hiromi Takei, IT Instructor, worked in Mongar Higher Secondary School.

2) Ms. Mutsumi Kotaki, Laboratory Technician, worked in JDWNR Hospital, Thimphu.

3) Mr. Masayuki Nagano, Music Instructor, worked in Kilu Music School, Thimphu.

� The Honourbale Minister of Agriculture, Lyonpo (Dr.) Pema Gyamtsho paid an informal visit to JICA Office on august 26, 2009.

Lyonpo expressed his appreciation for the JICA’s support to farming community of Bhutan through various assistance projects.

This was the first visit by a Cabinet Minister to JICA Office.

� The JICA Alumni Association of Bhutan (JAAB) organised a

Mustake mushroom lunch on September 6, 2009 at JICA

Office. Mustake is a favourite mushroom for many Japa-

nese and it is grown plenty in Bhutanese forests. A large

number of alumni members and Japanese living in Thimphu

enjoyed the get together.

� A group of twelve participants left for Japan 26 August to

participate in the Training Programme for Young Leaders.

The three weeks course is organised by Osaka

International Centre and the theme of the traing is on Local

Governance.

Like any other growing city, Thimphu is also facingsolid waste management problems. City Corpora-tion officials are trying to look for new and innova-tive ways to tackle this issue. In June 2009, ThimphuCity Corporation started a compost plant inWangchutaba as a means to find sustainable waysto manage and recycle vegetable waste. SeniorVolunteer, Tetsuo Tsumuraya, Waste ManagementAdvisor has been involved with this project. He hasbeen working in Thimphu City Corporation sinceSeptember 2008.

Solid waste from the sabzi bazaar (vegetable mar-ket) is collected and dropped off at the compost planttwice a week. At the compost plant, the vegetablewaste is segregated from the rest of the waste andplaced in a separate area. The vegetable waste un-dergoes either an anaerobic or aerobic compost pro-cess. The aerobic procedure involves adding mois-ture and blowing hot air on the vegetable waste,then it is left out in the open for a month to enable itto turn into compost.

Mr. Tsumuraya visits the compost plant twice a week to give advice on proper segregation techniques, correct procedureregarding blower movement, heating and moisture. He works closely with Mr. Pema who is In-charge of the compost plant.This plant is in its initial phase therefore, Mr. Tsumuraya’s guidance is crucial and if this plant functions well then it can reapenvironmental benefits for Bhutan. It will provide an effective means to recycle vegetable waste and this process can bereplicated in other parts of the country.

Newsletter Team

Emi Doyle, Project Formulation AdvisorKinley Dorji, Senior Programme OfficerZangpo, Technical Officer (General Affairs)Yeshey W. Tamang, Techical Officer

For more information

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

P.O. Box 217, Doy-bum Lam, Above Memorial Chorten, Thimphu, Bhutan

Tel: (975) 2-322030, 323218, 328074, 324571,324463

Fax: (975) 2-323089

E-mail:

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