Bhutan: eastern potato farmers happy with prices

With potatoes price reaching as high as Nu.8.00 a kilogramme, farmers from the five eastern dzongkhags of Pemagatshel, Mongar, Trashigang, Trashiyangtse and Samdrup Jongkhar are optimistic of a good season ahead this year.

“Last year the highest price fetched was about Nu. 700 a quintal or Nu.7.00 a kilogramme, but this year from the beginning itself we are getting good prices,” said a farmer from Trashigang. According to Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB) auction yard complex manager in Samdrup Jongkhar, Karma Chindu, the cash crop fetched good price but the quantity was not as much as last year.

“As usual, the good prices this year are indicative of the poor season in the neighbouring Indian towns,” said the manager. Karma Chindu said that most of the potatoes were bought and consumed within the neighbouring Assamese towns of Guwahati, Rangia, Tangla, Kumarikata and Rauta. The potato season in East Bhutan starts from May peaking in September and November and ends by December.

According to FCB officials, Trashigang dzongkhag produces the maximum potatoes in the region. Records maintained by the auction yard complex shows that farmers from Trashigang dzongkhag have sold about 9,500 quintals of potatoes worth about Nu. 6.9 million between April and August 16.

The rest of the dzongkhags, Samdrup Jongkhar, Pemagatshel, Trashiyangtse and Mongar, together have been able to sell only about 2,500 quintals of potatoes worth about Nu. 1.1 million. Apart from the potatoes, other vegetables like radish, cabbage and chilly are also sold at the auction yard.

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