The National Sheep Breeding Centre in Bumthang has made great strides in the conservation of Jakar Type, a sheep breed native to Bhutan, and also in reviving sheep farming. But its efforts are not without challenges and the shortage of trained manpower is of them.
The centre has 16 staff at the moment, but the number is far too less for the growing sheep population. Of the 16 employees, 12 are Elementary Service Personnel (ESP). They are the ones who carry out feeding and rearing works. The other four employees take care of technical and management works.
Farm Manager, Sonam Jamtsho, said the centre is eligible for only three technicians as per the OD Exercise of the RCSC. “There is me and an Animal Health Assistant and a Pasture Assistant. The three of us have to take care of many things, which is not always easy.”
Besides, the Manager says the technical team is fairly new to their job and lack knowledge and skills to handle farm machinery at the centre. For instance, the wool processing machine, which was procured when the centre was first established in the 1970’s, is operated by an ESP rather than a technician.
The old and worn out machine breaks down frequently and this is when the real challenge sets in. With no idea of what each part is called, the ESPs struggle to fix the machine.
Making do with the resources they have at their disposal is how the Centre has survived so far. But if it is to make even greater strides, the centre says it has to be equipped with adequate resources including trained manpower.
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