A Blossoming Social Enterprise Redefines Women’s Roles in Rural Bhutan

Where does gender fit into Bhutan’s aspirations for all citizens to achieve Gross National Happiness? Overall, men in the country are happier than women—largely due to existing gender barriers that disadvantage women. But in a rural farming community in northern Bhutan, four female entrepreneurs are shifting the narrative on what their gender can achieve.

Bhutan has embraced gender equity as a core aspect of its broader commitment to Gross National Happiness (GNH) development goals, which emphasize social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being. While Bhutan's ranking on the Gender Inequality Index (GII) in 2022 improved to 80th (from 98th in 2021) and impressive progress has been made for women in education and health, issues such as limited female participation in the labor market and governance remain. Women in Bhutan occupy only 7% of seats in Parliament in 2024 (compared to 15% in 2018) and make up just 54% of the labor force, which is significantly lower than the male representation of 74%.

According to this 2024 report by the government of Bhutan, deeply rooted gender norms, an increase in gender-based violence during the pandemic, and the underrepresentation of women in decision-making are still significant obstacles to achieving full gender equality. These obstacles are especially evident in rural communities, where traditional roles often limit women’s opportunities and involvement in leadership and decision-making processes.

The government and NGOs continue to work toward removing the barriers that hinder women's empowerment with targeted programs and interventions that focus on capacity development, sensitization on local governance processes, and access to finance. Entrepreneurship is another emerging pathway for promoting women’s economic empowerment and participation in the labor force, while also fostering change in gender perceptions and roles at the community level.

The Drachukha Flower Group

In the rural farming community of Drachukha, nestled within the Jigme Dorji National Park in Punkaha, Bhutan, four women—Choki, Tshering, Wangchuk and Kinley—have become inspiring examples of resilience, innovation and leadership in agriculture. Many young people in Bhutan, particularly educated ones, leave rural areas in search of opportunities in urban settlements. However, these women chose to stay in their village after completing their education.

Drachukha, which is home to just 21 households and a population of around 100 villagers, faces the typical challenges of rural farming communities across Bhutan, including limited market access, a lack of modern agricultural techniques and annual harvest losses to wildlife. These four women recognized that despite these challenges, the beauty of rural life lies in its deep sense of community, where families support one another and the philosophy of living in harmony with nature is ingrained in daily life.

Determined to create a sustainable livelihood for themselves, the women stayed in Drachukha with the goal of reviving farming as a viable, modern pursuit—and an alternative to the typical rural-urban migration pathway. They envisioned a future where they could integrate new ideas with traditional agricultural practices to generate income. The catalyst for their plan was the discovery of demand for edible flower petals, a lucrative product gaining traction in the international market, including in Switzerland. Their journey began with a partnership with the private enterprise Bhutan Blossoms (formerly called Druk Metho) based in the capital, Thimphu, which supported them with fundraising, logistics, marketing, processing and organic farming know-how. Such a partnership is innovative in Bhutan, where social enterprises are a fairly new concept and lack a clear regulatory framework.

The women’s commitment to sustainable farming led them to form the Drachukha Flower Group and lease a piece of fallow land, where they began piloting the cultivation of commercial-scale floriculture. With the backing of a European Union (EU)-funded project implemented by Helvetas Bhutan, called “Support to Civil Society in Bhutan,” they embarked on building their capacities in international organic farming.

Their first harvest in 2019 was exported to Switzerland. In 2020, they took the next step by exporting value-added products such as risotto, spice mixes and herbal teas made from locally grown ingredients. That same year, their one-acre farm earned EU organic certification—making it the first EU organic certified farm in Bhutan. Since then, the operation has expanded to four acres. The project’s success has done more than just provide them with a steady income; it has also built their capacities in organic farming, project management and community development, positioning them to become future community leaders.

The social enterprise that has emerged from the partnership between the women’s group and Bhutan Blossoms focuses on creating healthy niche food products for local and international markets. This is underpinned by the overall aim of building a sustainable and resilient farming culture in rural communities. Their products are now available to be ordered through Organic Bhutan, a crowd-ordering platform that supports the promotion and export of locally produced products.

The Drachukha Flower Group now earns a monthly salary and shares annual profits from the venture with their community. The women set aside 20% of their profits for a Community Development Fund that supports small business ventures through microfinance loans. The recipients are decided collectively by the 21 households of Drachukha.

The entrepreneurs in the Drachukha Flower Group show how gender equality in rural Bhutan can be redefined through women’s leadership. Their story challenges traditional gender roles and paves the way for future generations of young women to see farming as a viable and profitable career path, and to see themselves as community leaders and successful business owners.

Strengthening women's roles in local governance

While the women of Drachukha have transformed their community through sustainable agricultural practices and entrepreneurship, similar efforts are being made through other Helvetas Bhutan projects to enhance women's participation in local governance. Through the Decentralization and Local Governance Project, 23 women from the Trongsa Dzongkhag district were trained to participate in local decision-making processes.

Prior to this initiative, many women had little to no involvement in local government gatherings such as village meetings and county councils, and some were unaware of these government sessions altogether. This lack of participation left women on the sidelines of critical community decisions.

Through the training and subsequent participation, the women gained a deeper understanding of local government functions and the procedures for each meeting. They learned how decisions are made, how budgets are allocated, and the importance of participation. The training also highlighted relevant laws and legislation (e.g., the Local Government Act 2009, Protocol for Local Government Proceedings 2020 and the National Gender Equality Policy) that support women's involvement in decision-making processes. Empowering women, especially in rural areas, is critical not only to contributing to gender equality but for the sustainable development of the broader community.

For many women in Trongsa, the trainings were an opportunity to break from past isolation and engage meaningfully in community initiatives. Training participant Deki Dema said she found it important for women to have a platform to voice their opinions and address community issues together. Another trainee, Ugyen Dema, said the training was the start of her journey from dependence on her husband to becoming actively involved in local government initiatives and mentoring other women’s groups.

The stories of new and better opportunities in Trongsa continue with Rinchen Lhamo and Rinchen Dema, who formed a self-help group producing and selling food products and recycled crafts. Trainee Dechen Pelden, who is involved in green tea production, also said she gained insights on submitting proposals and collaborating with local authorities. These are just a few of the many participants who used the training as a springboard to grow their ventures in bakeries, waste recycling and other women’s empowerment projects. Participants have also expanded and replicated these efforts in other districts in southern and eastern Bhutan.

As women across the country gain knowledge and confidence in participating in local government processes, they improve their own lives while also contributing to broader goals of community development and sustainable growth. The UNDP’s Human Development Report for 2023-2024 highlighted that in countries like Bhutan, efforts to improve gender equality are critical for ensuring that no one is left behind—underscoring the need for collective action to address these challenges and calling for a focus on empowering individuals, especially women, to shape their own development trajectories.

The women of Drachukha and Trongsa show us the transformative potential of inclusive decision-making, where women play an active role in shaping their communities and driving progress. Women’s involvement in the community and local governance not only ensures their voices are heard, but also strengthens the foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable future in Bhutan.

About the Author

Yangchen Dolkar Dorji is the Project Manager for Helvetas’ work on empowering civil society in Bhutan, where she oversees projects supporting civil society organizations’ capacity development and facilitates networking with actors from the state and private sector.