While in urban areas of Bhutan there are complains of vegetable shortages, rural commercial growers are grappling with losses from damaged or returned farm produce for lack of swift distribution mechanisms and insufficient communication among authorities.
Towards the end of 2020, a grower in Zhemgang, Galey Yangzom, could not sell half of her vegetable harvest, which wilted and rotted. Since she started farming in the beginning of 2020, about six tons of potatoes were damaged as there was no facilitation and support in transporting the produce.
She also planted potatoes in about five acres. “Since there was no help coming from the authorities concerned, we got in touch with the Food Corporation of Bhutan Limited in Gelephu, Phuntsholing, and Zhemgang.”
An official from post-harvest and marketing division visited and tied her with a vendor in Gelephu who bought six tons of grade-A potatoes but refused to buy grades B and C. “We tried reaching out to the officials through various mediums but they said there was no market.”
Most of the commercial growers said that there was a communication gap among officials in the regions and the agriculture ministry. “There are many agencies involved in decision making and they implement different decisions, creating confusion for growers,” one told kuenselonline.com.
A commercial grower and the former Member of the Parliament, Tharchen, said that there was poor coordination among Thimphu Thromde, agriculture ministry, distributors, and the Royal Bhutan Police. “This is the result of their poor coordination. Once delivered from the field, the extension officers should not accept the vegetables. The local governments should be involved.”
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