Chimi Dema | Tsirang

With borders closed in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, farmers and vendors in Mendrelgang, Tsirang are making the most out of the bamboo business.

Ghollay, a vendor in the gewog, said that in absence of bamboo import from India he was getting more supply orders.

He supplies at least three truckloads of bamboo in a week to Thimphu, Wangdue, and Punakha.

“The price has also tripled,” Ghollay said. “A piece of bamboo which used to sell at Nu 50 in the past can fetch about Nu 150 now.”

He buys a piece of bamboo at Nu 50 from farmers of Pemashong and Tashithang.

So far, he has supplied more than 14 truckloads of bamboo. “I have orders for five more truckloads.”

A vendor said that selling a truckload of bamboo meant Nu 10,000 profit.

Birkha Bahadur Tamang, a vendor, said that he was able to supply about 25 truckloads of bamboo a month.

Orders came from as far as Trongsa, Bumthang, and Paro, he said. He buys bamboo at Nu 110 and sells at Nu 160. He collects bamboo from farmers in Mendrelgang, Tsholingkhar, and Drugyegang in Dagana, and Gelephu.

“Although the profit isn’t much, I am happy to help farmers during such difficult times,” he said.

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