the farmers of haa valley, bhutan

The Asian Farmers' Association (AFA) commissioned two members of VISTA to photo-document and be part of an exploratory mission as Civil Society Organization representatives of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) in Bhutan.  For a week, the team interviewed farmers and other stakeholders of the program, including international funding agencies and government agencies.   They went to Haa Valley, southwest of Thimphu, to gather data about their agricultural conditions and problems.

the local leaders

dr. kuenga namgay explains the food security program as farmers intently listen.

an elderly farmer

"auntie" (center) has a farmhouse that she offers to tourists for lodging.  vista stayed at her place last year.  

fresh college graduates decide to stay and organize a farmers' cooperative 

a greenhouse for farming

a tiller's hand