Citrus farming is a mainstay for the majority of Bhutanese residing in the rural areas of the country. It is the second most exported crop (potatoes are first) and is the only commodity that brings in foreign revenue for Bhutan. Citrus generates about 400 million Bhutanese ngultrum annually (roughly equivalent to AUD$8.5 million).
However, this million-dollar industry is under threat of Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB). Previously known as citrus greening disease, it is an incurable disease that has decimated citrus trees worldwide.
UNE PhD.Innovation student Kinley Dorji’s research is focused on how to mitigate the impact of this devastating disease. Kinley’s project involves developing an institutional working mechanism for the production of health-tested citrus seedlings (HTS) in Bhutan by focusing on the social and technical aspects of HTS production.
The study will deploy a multidisciplinary system approach, using complexity principles, with the aims of understanding and incorporating industry stakeholder views into the creation of a workable production mechanism capable of ensuring production supply and industry use of quality of citrus seedlings. The project will identify production gaps using the principles of complexity science and system theory. The data will be gathered through a study of existing production scenarios (by documentary analysis), stakeholders’ perceptions (through focus group discussion), and in-depth stakeholder interview (qualitative survey) and engagement.
An effective means to combat Citrus HLB is desperately needed. Bhutan’s citrus export has decreased significantly over the last decade as a result of trees dying from HLB diseases, no current viable production of health-tested citrus seedlings and trees not being replanted.
An institutional working mechanism for the production of health-tested citrus seedlings (HTS) in Bhutan is crucial if the situation is to change. This mechanism will need to enable the recommencement of the production of healthy seedlings needed to sustain the Bhutanese citrus industry into the future. As such, the findings of Kinley’s Innovation Project have the potential to provide a management strategy solution that will enable the production of healthy citrus seedlings to replenish and sustain the Bhutanese citrus industry.
Kinley works in primary industry in Bhutan. UNE’s Doctor of Philosophy (Innovation) (PhD.I), has enabled him to earn his doctorate from his workplace, conducting the research, development and application of his Innovation project to Bhutan’s farming context.