The World Food Programme committed over USD 14 million on Thursday, November 20, 2025, to bolster Bhutan food systems through climate-resilient initiatives. The funding spans five years, with a partnership between Bhutan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. It aims to aid 47,000 smallholder farmers, emphasising sustainable practices amid rising disasters.
The WFP Bhutan investment in 2025 holds significance in South Asia, where climate threats are looming large. Bhutan’s carbon-negative status inspires, yet food imports strain regional trade. Enhanced resilience here could model adaptations for neighbours like Nepal and India, curbing cross-border hunger migration and bolstering Himalayan food chains.
Investment Breakdown and Objectives
WFP 14 million Bhutan food systems allocation totals USD 14.6 million, drawn from the Climate and Resilience Investment Pipeline launched in 2023. Funds target building adaptive agriculture in vulnerable zones. Key components include value chain upgrades, post-harvest storage, and market linkages.
The initiative supports Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan, with a focus on achieving self-reliance. It equips farmers with drought-resistant seeds and irrigation tech. Training initially covers 10,000 households, scaling to 47,000 by 2030. Women, comprising 60% of farmers, gain priority in skills programmes.
“This investment fortifies our path to food sovereignty,” said Namgay Dorji, Bhutan’s Agriculture Minister, in a Thimphu briefing. “WFP’s support aligns with Gross National Happiness by safeguarding livelihoods.”
Bhutan’s food security efforts, integrated with WFP, focus on nutrition. Over 86% of residents lack sufficient fruits and vegetables. The project promotes diverse crops, such as quinoa and millets, linking them to school feeding programs revived after the 2019 handover.
Partners include the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, building on the USD 13 million BRECSA project from 2020. That effort enhanced commercial farming in eastern districts, boosting incomes by 20% for participants.
Climate Challenges in Bhutanese Agriculture
Bhutan faces acute vulnerabilities. Less than 3% of the land is suitable for arable farming, confined to steep valleys. Monsoon shifts and glacial melts trigger floods, eroding soils. The 2024 GLOF in Punakha displaced 500 families, destroying rice paddies and other agricultural areas.
Climate-resilient agriculture in Bhutan demands innovation. WFP allocates 14 million Bhutanese rupees for food systems funds, including solar pumps and terracing for 5,000 hectares. Early warnings are integrated with national disaster maps, which are drafted in collaboration with WFP aid. Data reveals gaps. Over 25% of households cannot afford balanced diets, per 2023 surveys. Imports fill 50% of needs, costing USD 200 million yearly. Rural poverty persists at 15%, despite a national decline to 12%.
WFP Bhutan investment 2025 addresses these. It pilots carbon-neutral techniques, aligning with Bhutan’s goal of zero emissions. Farmers receive micro-insurance against pests, linked to a 2024 digital platform. In eastern Bhutan, BRECSA tested models. Yields rose 15% via cooperatives. Now, WFP scales west, targeting Paro and Wangdue. Beneficiaries report fewer losses from erratic rains.
Partnerships and Capacity Building
Collaboration drives the WFP’s 14 million Bhutan food systems push. The Ministry leads implementation, with WFP providing expertise. International Fund for Agricultural Development co-funds pilots. Bhutan’s food security ties with WFP extend to policy. WFP supported the 2024 National Resilience Roadmap by modelling earthquake impacts. Telecom upgrades ensure alerts reach remote herders.
Training empowers locals. By mid-2026, two thousand extension officers will have learned agroforestry. Youth modules target 5,000 graduates, blending tradition with technology, such as drone mapping. Donors praise alignment. “Bhutan’s model integrates happiness metrics with sustainability,” noted a GAFSP representative. Funds flow transparently, audited quarterly.
This climate-resilient agriculture in Bhutan focuses on tackling gender barriers. Women access 70% of the tools, according to project metrics. It counters malnutrition, where 28% of children under five are stunted. Regional exchanges share lessons. Bhutan hosts Nepal delegations on resilient seeds, fostering South Asian networks.
Nutritional and Economic Impacts
WFP Bhutan’s 2025 investment links farms to markets. School menus feature local produce, serving 150,000 students. This cuts import reliance by 10% in pilot districts. Economic modelling projects USD 50 million in farmer gains over five years. Value chains for potatoes and apples expand exports to India, easing trade deficits.
Health gains follow. Behaviour change campaigns reach 100,000 via radio. Vegetable intake targets rise to 400g daily per person. Challenges persist. Funding gaps hit USD 5 million annually for monitoring. Yet successes build momentum. Post-COVID recoveries saw a 30% increase in cooperatives. WFP 14 million Bhutan food systems accelerate this, embedding resilience in curricula.
Background: WFP’s Evolving Role in Bhutan
The WFP entered Bhutan in 1974, aiding the country’s post-war recovery. Early focus: emergency rice for 10,000. By the 1990s, shifts to development. The 2019-2023 Country Strategic Plan emphasised nutrition. It handed over school meals to the government, achieving 80% coverage. Investments cut stunting 5%.
BRECSA marked a pivot. Launched in 2020, it trained 20,000 in the eastern belts. Yields climbed amid the 2022 droughts. Bhutan’s 2024 middle-income status prompted transitions. WFP now advises, not delivers. The 2024-2028 plan aims for a total of USD 30 million, with a climate core.
Food imports surged 15% post-pandemic. WFP’s advocacy shaped import taxes on junk foods. Historical earthquakes, such as the 2009 6.1 magnitude, underscored the needs. Preparedness drills are now annual, saving lives in the 2023 floods.
What’s Next: Scaling Resilience Nationwide
Implementation starts January 2026. Pilots in five dzongkhags test tech. Evaluations every 18 months adjust tactics. Expansion eyes 100,000 beneficiaries by 2030. Integration with the 14th Plan targets 70% self-sufficiency.Donor roundtables in Thimphu seek an additional USD 20 million. Bhutan shares data regionally via the SAARC forums.
Monitoring utilizes satellite imagery to assess crop health. Annual reports track carbon savings. As threats intensify, WFP’s 14 million Bhutanese food systems stand at a pivotal point. It weaves adaptation into daily lives, securing harvests for generations.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, November 22nd, 2025
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram, and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
