“A High-Income Country Driven by Innovation and Sustainability” is the development vision of the 13 FYP of the Bhutan.” Within this vision, the agriculture sector is mandated to boost the GDP contribution to Nu. 50 billion and increase the export value to Nu. 6 billion. The Building Resilient Commercial Smallholder Agriculture (BRECSA) project, funded by the GAFSP and IFAD, is currently being implemented in Sarpang, Trongsa, Tsirang, and Zhemgang. The project aims to increase resilient commercial agriculture production by 30% and enhance food and nutrition security in these areas by 2030. Enhancing capacity of FGs, Coops, Aggregators, Agi-food enterprises and commercial farmers on Financial Education and Business Literacy (FEBL) is a pre-requisite for promoting agriculture as a business. 

RAMCO as a nodal agency convened first FEBL workshop from 26 till 30 April 2025 at Tendrel Resort, Trongsa. The workshop is to review FEBL modules being implemented by DAMC, Tarayana and CARLEP and to develop uniform and standardized FEBL modules. The workshop also gave an opportunity to finalize FEBL implementation guideline developed by PMU. A total of 13 people (3 female, 10 male) participated in the workshop and workshop was by chaired by Chief EDMO, Cooperative Development Division, DAMC. Other participants are Chief Post Production Officer, NPHC, head of Enterprise Development Unit and officials of RAMCO and PMU.

On the onset, workshop went through in detail book keeping modules being implemented by the CARLEP, DAMC and Tarayana. We had thorough discussion and deliberation on the different modules being implemented by various agencies. Finally, the workshop agreed to adopt module being implemented in the six eastern Dzongkhags. The module was developed by CARLEP in 2024 and is being implemented by RAMCO, Mongar. The module will be used for the enhancing the capacity of the FGs and Coops engaged in production.

The workshop unanimously agreed to develop advance module for agri-food enterprises, cooperatives and aggregators. The participants rigorously worked for three days to come up with comprehensive advance level FEBL module. Following are the contents of the module in brief:

1. Entrepreneurship and Business Development
2. Post-Harvest Technology and Value chain
3. Record and book keeping 
4. Economic Analysis of Enterprise
5. Financial Analysis of Enterprise

In the preceding workshops the team will develop detailed training manuals and materials including videos and print materials. SJs, EDMOs and Gewog RNR officials will be given TOT and equipped with comprehensive training materials. Final implementation of FEBL will be done by the SJs, EDMOs and officials of RAMCOs.