Contribution of Organic Agriculture to Gross National Happiness (GNH): Bhutan

Abstract

The objective of this review was to study the contribution of organic agriculture (OA) to the development paradigm of Bhutan, Gross National Happiness (GNH). This study examined contributions of OA on GNH on each of the domains under four pillars. The impacts of OA on GNH were assessed using the GNH Project Screening Tool of Agriculture. The tool was developed based on four pillars and nine domains of GNH by Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS). Each of the screening variable consists of a 4-pointer scale: 1 (negative), 2 (uncertain), 3 (neutral), and 4 (positive). We found that OA and GNH share comparable principles. The principles focusing on the sustainability, well-being of the people, and natural ecosystem while enhancing the economic growth. Further, the result showed a positive score of 120 out of 136 scores. This is way beyond the neutral score of 102. Scoring was from judgement based on the available literature. The apparent result shows that Bhutan has chosen a viable option.