BBSCL

The National Health Survey 2023 reveals that areca nut consumption among Bhutanese aged 15 to 69 rose to nearly 60 per cent last year, marking a three per cent increase since 2019. The health ministry attributes the rise to the product being cheap, easily available and culturally accepted in the country. To address this, the ministry plans to introduce measures...

In Samdrup Jongkhar’s Langchenphu Gewog, areca nut leaf sheaths are being transformed into biodegradable plates and cups. These eco-friendly alternatives are replacing plastic at celebrations. This shift has helped reduce pollution and promote a cleaner and greener community. Without the areca nut plate and cup-manufacturing unit, the areca nut sheaths were discarded openly. Now, they are collected and processed into...

Our roots and heritage often define our identity, connecting us to the tools and traditions of our forefathers. However, as modernisation transforms daily life, many timeless artefacts have disappeared from Bhutanese households. In a bid to preserve these cultural treasures, residents of Bartsham Gewog in Trashigang have inaugurated a community museum. Supported by JICA, the museum aims to safeguard and...

Growing perilla was once a common practice for the farmers of Gomder Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar. However, over the years, interest in perilla cultivation has waned, and it is on the brink of disappearance. Today, only one villager in Bazor village continues to grow the herb. Some 20 years ago, farmers in Bazor village used to grow perilla abundantly. Perilla,...