The Agriculture Research and Development Center (ARDC), Bajo, continued to make significant strides in wheat research and seed production during the 2024–2025 season. As part of its commitment to improving food security and promoting climate-resilient crops, the Centre undertook several key initiatives.
The Initial Evaluation Trial (IET) of the 54th International Durum Wheat Yield Nursery (IDYN), 14th Elite Zinc Advanced Nursery (HZAN), and 30th Semi-Arid Wheat Yield Trial (SAWYT) was successfully conducted.
Building on its first-year success, the second-year evaluation of durum wheat (used for semolina and pasta) was expanded across multiple locations to assess adaptability, yield performance, and disease resistance under Bhutanese conditions. This initiative aims to identify suitable production zones and establish best practices for commercial cultivation.
In collaboration with the National Plant Protection Centre (NPPC), ARDC Bajo also established sentinel plots with 28 wheat lines for rust surveillance. Weekly observations were recorded using the ‘Open Data Kit (ODK)’ app, enabling real-time disease monitoring.
Additionally, ARDC Bajo contributed to national seed security by producing breeder and maintenance seeds of released wheat and minor cereal varieties.
These efforts underscore ARDC Bajo’s vital role in enhancing wheat productivity, nutritional quality, and resilience for Bhutan’s evolving agricultural landscape.