A research conducted by Renewable Natural Resources Research and Development Sub-Centre (RNRRDSC) in Tsirang has found that Baj and Agreem – two new wheat variety – to be more resistent to rust infection than Sonalika, the variety the farmers have been growing. Rust has been a recurrent threat to wheat production in the dzongkhag. Research says that yellow rust epidemic in 1985 and 1986 caused loss of more than 50% wheat production in Punakha. It believes that more damage could have been caused in successive years. The annual rust surveillance since 2012 has repeatedly spotted yellow and brown rust as the most common diseases in areas where Sonalika is grown. This year recorded 70% rust susceptibility of Sonalika. Sangay Tshewang, wheat researcher and coordinator at centre, said Sonalika has become susceptible in countries like Nepal and India. The agriculture ministry, he said, aims to increase wheat production although it is a ‘minor’ crop in the country. Last year, on farm trial, 8,000kg new varieties wheat were distributed to the registered farmers of Wangdue and Punakha to test and further distribute to the farmers in the following season. “We are hoping to collect about 160 tonnes of seedlings from the farmers this season to be distributed,” he said. It is expected that the seed quantity can easily be met. Wheat is mostly grown in low lying dzongkhags like Wangdue, Punakha, Trashigang, Trongsa, Samtse, and Tsirang. Dhurba Das Chhettri, branch manager at National Seed Centre at Baja, said the centre expects to collect about 68 tonnes of Agreem and 87 tonnes of Baj seedlings from the two dzongkhags of Wangdue and Punakha this year. District Agriculture Officer Sonam Zangpo said the main objective of the programme is to enhance wheat production in the country. “Its good to change old variety after many years. We are helping farmers in marketing by buying their products.” Farmers were given free seedling last year for the first time. Wheat is used as poultry feed and is also consumed by of the farmers, or used to brew alcohol. Some of the farmers who took new seedling are yet to harvest first time. Barp gewog has started harvesting but are waiting for a thrashing machine to determine the production. Sonalika was first imported from North East India in 1988 and since than farmers have been growing.