Bhutan E-RNR Masterplan.

This Bhutan E-RNR Masterplan is a setoral policy document for the period of 2016-2023. As part of the country’s information and communication technology (ICT) efforts, this e-renewable natural resources (e-RNR) master plan has been developed using the RNR sector’s eleventh five year plan (2013-2018) as the guiding framework. The vision is: By 2023, application of Information and communication technologies (ICTs) will accelerate sustainable growth of renewable natural resources sector for equitable socio-economic well-being of the people and the nation.
One of the outcomes is: Increase the efficiency of production and diversity of crops, improve logistics (e.g. storage, transportation, farm inputs) and carry out effective monitoring of RNR sector using ICTs. According to the the Plan, achieving its outcomes would in turn facilitate achieving the four policy goals of the ERNR in the medium term, including: enhance food and nutrition security by making various kinds of foods available through improved production, access and enabling effective utilization of food.
The E-RNR Masterplan seeks to make agriculture and forestry more productive and sustainable. The objective is to harness the country’s ICT potential for a more efficient achievement of the goals set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s five-year plan. At the same time, the initiative aims to accelerate the growth of the RNR sector in a sustainable and equitable manner. The plan also identifies the critical ecosystem requirements (e.g. telecom infrastructure, banking infrastructure, e-GIF, hydro-metrological information) and also takes into consideration the existing systems/ solutions and details the plans for developing and implementing six priority solutions.
The Plan seeks to enhance sustainable rural livelihood in the medium term through making rural livelihood productive and sustainable by generating employment opportunities, increasing rural HH cash income and implement Rural Economic Advancement Programs in the selected vulnerable geogs.
The Plan promotes to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. One of the four policy goals of the ERNR in the medium term is: accelerating RNR sector growth to 4% through agriculture commercialization/diversification, private sector participation and value addition on export. The Priority ICT solutions include: 1. E-RNR Extension and Advisory system; 2. Online RNR marketplace and supply chain management information system; 3. M-banking/ online transaction for agricultural services; 4. RNR helpline.
In addition, the Plan seeks to increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters. Priority ICT solutions include: Integrated Natural Resources Management Information System; Agrometeorological Information Services (Mobile application); etc.