Tshering Namgyal | Mongar

As the day breaks, Tashi Wangmo of Atingar village of Kharnang chiwog in Chaskhar begins her journey towards Mongar-Trashigang highway. After walking for over an hour with a basketful of mixed vegetables, corn and tengma (bitten maize) etc., she settles down at market place aside the highway at Pahadrang and displays the farm produce on the ground.

It’s a daily routine for the 24-year-old but she is not alone. Her village folks of Pam and Kharnang chiwogs join her. At least five farmers from two chiwogs come to sell their farm produce including vegetables, dairy products and fruits every day. The number of local vendors goes up to 15 during peak season that lasts for two to three months in summer

Here, they have found an easy market to sell their farm produce in the absence of a proper market nearby. Mongar town is far, the nearest Yadi satellite town has no buyers.

So, they have chosen this area.

It’s been years they have been making the best use of the highway. The travellers are their main customers.

They sell roasted corns. During vegetable season almost all the varieties of vegetables are available on display. During fruit season they sell orange and guava.

Tashi Wangmo, who has been selling farm produce since 2014, said she earns about Nu 100,000 during a vegetable season in summer.

Neten, 44, another regular vendor, made Nu 100,000 selling tengma, roasted corns and other products in the last two months.

The local vendors said their issue of market shed was raised and requested the gewog administration to build temporary shed for the farmers.

The Chaskhar gewog administration is aware of the situation. Chaskhar Gup Pema Dorji said the need for the shed is genuine and gewog had planned for a shed and the budget was also allocated.

But land issue stalled the plan. He explained that the land belonged to a villager who was not willing to give it for the construction of shed.

Edited by Jigme Wangchuk