Supply of livestock products continues from Tsirang
Chimi Dema | Tsirang
The production of pork in Tsirang dropped from 1,396kg monthly to 55kg last year, according to records maintained by Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority’s (BAFRA) regional office.
The office recorded zero production of pork in November last year and this month.
The dzongkhag livestock sector, however, has recorded that about 940kg of pork was supplied to other dzongkhags since December last year.
While the figures indicate a decline in production, the dzongkhag livestock officials claimed otherwise.
The senior dzongkhag livestock officer, Gyem Tshering, said that there was no production fluctuation but it was due to the choice of pork producers.
Given good market price in other dzongkhags, he said that farmers and vendors supplied to nearby dzongkhags of Wangdue, Punakha and Thimphu without declaring the total production to agencies concerned.
“A kg of pork can fetch only Nu 450 here. The same quantity fetches even Nu 800 in other dzongkhags,” he said.
To meet local demand in the dzongkhag, Tsirang imported about 927kg pork and 440kg chicken this month, according to the records with the BAFRA.
Senior livestock regulatory and quarantine inspector with BAFRA, Krishna Bdr. Mo gar, said that people took livestock products only upon receiving movement permits.
Tsirang today has 21 commercial, 106 semi-commercial, and 366 subsistence piggery farms with around 1,000 pig populations.
Meanwhile, supply of other livestock products from Tsirang to other dzongkhags continues.
The dzongkhag has supplied about 40MT beef, 1.4MT chicken and 67kg chevon since December last year.
During the second nationwide lockdown, more than 4,000 cartons of eggs, 11,286 cheese balls and 316kg butter were supplied to Thimphu, Punakha and Wangdue.
The lone slaughter house in the dzongkhag produced more than 100MT of beef.
Tsirang has bought about 22MT of vegetables including 3,920kgs tomato, 3,757kg onion, 555kg dried chilli, and 1.7MT of fruits from December till date.