Dharamshala: Since major parts of the Tibetan population is settled in 12 Agricultural based settlements in India, keeping in view the proper usage of these agricultural land and to avoid the issue of encroachment by local Indians, Tibetan farmers are being encouraged for intensive farming. In order to check the reducing trend of farming in these settlements, the Department of Home through the Agriculture section is providing necessary assistance in terms of machinery, inputs, and cattle. Above that, on 30th November 2018, the 15th Kashag has approved the guideline to give away the “Best Farmer” and “Best Young Farmer” award to encourage and attract Tibetan youngsters into farming as a profession. The awards have been named as “Yarlung Sothang Life Time Farmers Achievement Award”.
The local selection committee at the settlement nominates a list of farmers which is further reviewed in detail by the central award committee of the Home Department who then selects the Best Farmer and Young Best farmer’s award of 2019 on the basis of the farming output of the said year.
This year, there was a tie for the best farmer award candidate between Mr. Wangyal Wangra from Lugsung Samdupling Tibetan settlement, Bylakuppe, and Mr. Tashi Topgyal from Phendeling Tibetan settlement, Mainpat. Mr. Tenzin Namjom from Phendeling Tibetan settlement, Mainpat has been awarded the best young farmer award. Each of them was honored with Rs. 100,000/- (Rupees One Lakh), along with a certificate and a Thangka (Tibetan traditional painting scroll) as a token of recognition on 2nd September 2020 during the Tibetan Democracy Day.
This is the second year the Department has given such awards to the Tibetan farmers. Initially, the awards were to be given at Dharamsala on this auspicious day but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restriction of movement, it has been decided to give the award in their respective settlements by the Settlement Officer.
-filed by Agriculture section, Department of Home
