Phurpa Lhamo | Punakha

Farmers in Punakha are unhappy with chilli price in the market.

However, most are appreciative of the dzongkhag’s initiative to collect the vegetables to avoid rotting.

Barp, Toedwang and Chhubu gewogs in Punakha are the major producers of vegetables in the dzongkhag.

According to Chhubu’s agriculture extension officer, Tshering Lhamo, until late August, the gewog sold around 9.2 metric tonnes (MT) of vegetables—9,080kg small chillies, 554kg beans and 332kg big chillies, among others.

This, she said, included sales made to vendors in Punakha and other dzongkhags.

Kinley, a farmer from Barp gewog, said that under different circumstances, small chillies fetched around Nu 350 per kg in the market, which dropped to Nu 180 after the lockdown. Today, small chilli sells at Nu 200 per kg.

“We heard that the price of a kg of small chilli is Nu 400 in Thimphu,” said Kinley.

Bumtakha-Tempakha chiwog Tshogpa, Namgay Tshering, said that while farmers had expected at least Nu 250 per kg for small chilli, many understood the nation’s situation. “But there are some who are unhappy with the price.”

The dzongkhag officials today offer price in accordance with the local market price offered by the Department of Agriculture Marketing and Cooperatives.

Most of the vegetables from Punakha are sold in Thimphu.

Collections and transportation of vegetables are managed by the dzongkhag administration.