Dr. Rekha Chhetri

Dr. Rekha Chhetri
Assistant Professor, Department of Sustainable Development
College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Punakha, Bhutan
Phone: 975-02-376249; Email: rekha.cnr@rub.edu.bt

Professional Preparation

• University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India, Agriculture  B.Sc.,1996
• University of Reading, United Kingdom, Soils & Environmental Pollution M.Sc., 2003
• Khon Kaen University, Thailand, Soil & Plant Nutrient dynamics Ph.D., 2012

Appointments

• 2016- Asst.Professor, College of Natural Resources (CNR), Royal University of Bhutan (RUB)
• 2023- Head, Centre for Rural Development Studies, CNR
• 2018-2020 Programme Leader for Master’s in Development Practices, CNR
• 2013-2016 Head of the Department, Sustainable Development, College of Natural Resources
• 2013-2016 Senior Lecturer, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan
• 1998- 2013 Lecturer, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan
• 1997-1998 Trainee officer, National Plant Protection Centre, Ministry of Agriculture & Forests, Bhutan

(i) Publications

Chhetri, R., Tashi, S., Yangchen, U., and Halvorson, S. (July 2024). Policy Brief: Securing the future for Bhutan’s Small-Scale Farming Communities with Climate-Smart Agriculture.The document was produced by Population Reference Bureau under the Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) with generous support of the USAID.

Halvorson, S. J., Chhetri, R., Tashi, S., and Yangchen, U. (2024). Mountain Farming and Resilience in Pemagatshel, Eastern Bhutan. FOCUS on Geography. DOI:10.21690/foge/2024.67.3p https://www.focusongeography.org/publications/photoessays/pemagatshel/index.html 

Dendup, T., Tashi, S., Chhetri, R., Yangchen, U. and Halvorson, S. J. (2023). Smallholder Farming and Climate-Smart Agriculture: A View from Pemagatshel District. College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan.  Smallholder Farming and Climate-Smart Agriculture: A View from Pemagatshel District. ISBN: 978-99936-994-6-0  

Dendup, T., Chhetri, R., & Dolma, C. (2021). Challenges of Young Agripreneurs in Eastern Bhutan. Social and Management Research Journal, 18(1). 53-72. doi: 10.24191/smrj.v18i1.12383.

Pema, K., Dendup, T., & Chhetri, R. (2020). Business to Business Marketing in Bhutan: A Case Study from Balam Gewog under Mongar Dzongkhag. Bhutan Journal of Natural Resources & Development, 7(2):34-42. doi: https://doi.org/10.17102/cnr.2020.50.

Dorji, C., Tashi, S., & Chhetri, R. (2020). Assessment of Water Shortage and Potential for Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting in Rural Development Training Centre, Zhemgang Town, Bhutan. Bhutan Journal of Natural Resources & Development. 7(1). 26-39. ISSN 2409– 2797. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17102/cnr.2020.43.

Gensits, B., Chhetri, R., & Tshotsho. (2019). Determinants of Risk-Dependent Agricultural Field Behaviours in Bhutan. International Journal of Agricultural Economics. 4(3).109119. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20190403.14.

Gensits, B.C., Chhetri, R., & Tshotsho. (2019). Agricultural Diversification and Rural Incomes in the Presence of Climate Change in Central-Western Bhutan. Bhutan Journal of Natural Resources & Development. 6(1).1-11. ISSN 2409–5273.

(ii) Up to five other significant publications

Kobayashi, M., & Chhetri, R. (2020). Zachum Feast Gochisou-Life around the Bhutanese plate.

Little More Co., Ltd. ISBN 978-4-906888-75-7, Kyoto, Japan.

Kobayashi, M., Chhetri, R., Fukamachi, K., & Shibata, S. (2015). Transitions in Forest Leaf Litter Use and Agricultural Practices in Western Bhutan, Papers on Environmental Information Science, Vol. 29. 117-122.

Kobayashi, M., Chhetri, R., & Fukamachi, K. (2015). Transition of Agriculture towards Organic Farming in Bhutan. Himalaya Monographs. Vol. 16. 66-72

Chhetri, R., Toomsan, B., Kaewpradit, W., & Limpinuntana, V. (2012). Mass loss, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium release patterns and non-additive interactions in a decomposition study of chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) and oak (Quercus griffithii).

International Journal of Agricultural Research 7(7): 332-344.

Chhetri, R., Toomsan, B., Kaewpradit, W., & Limpinuntana, V. (2012). Traditional practice of leaf litter harvesting and utilization by farmers in west-central Bhutan: Paving the way for sustainable management. Khon Kaen Agriculture Journal 40(4): 363-372. d. Synergistic

1. Principal Investigator for PEER Bhutan project on Climate Smart Agriculture & Food Security supported by USAID, (2022-2023).
2. Program Developer, Sc. Organic Agriculture programme, CNR, Bhutan, 2018-2019
3. Project Co-ordinator for HIMALICA project on Action research on Climate Resilient Livelihoods in collaboration with ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2014-2016.
4. Member, Research and Innovation Committee of Royal University of Bhutan , 2014-2019.
5. Editorial Board Member/Reviewer of Bhutan Journal of Natural Resources & Development 2014-Current
6. Member, College Research Committee, 2012-2020; 2023-Current
7. Member, University Human Resource Committee, RUB, 2023-Current
8. Chair, M.Sc. in Natural Resources Management programme, CNR, 2023-Current 9. Chair, B.Sc. Forestry, CNR, 2024-Current

Collaborators (to name a few)

ICIMOD, Nepal; Kyoto University Graduate School of Economics, Japan; University of Montana, USA; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NAS), USA; USAID; National Soil Services Centre, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock, Bhutan; Master’s in Development Practice Program Secretariat, SDG-Academy Division, USA; Royal Society for Protection of Nature, Bhutan; Bhutan Foundation; Bhutan Ecological Society; Tarayana Foundation; Commercial Agriculture & Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme, Bhutan.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Advisors

Dr. Steve Robinson, University of Reading, UK for Masters thesis.

Dr. Banyong Toomsan, Dr. Wanwipa Kaewpradit Polpinit & Dr. Viriya Limpinuntana, Khon Kaen University, Thailand for Ph.D.