Samdrup Jongkhar produces almost 2,500 litres of milk in a day, but the town relies on nearby districts for its butter and cheese supply. Now, this is because local farmers prefer to sell milk over churning it into cheese and butter.
Selling milk directly earns them more profit.
Of the 16 dairy groups in the dzongkhag, only one in Marsthala Gewog produces cheese and butter.
“We now rear many jersey cows and it’s more profitable to sell milk than cheese and butter,” Tshering Gylepo, a dairy farmer form Dewathang, said.
“It’s because we have to hire workers to make cheese and butter. So, it’s easier and cheaper to sell the milk directly.”
It’s, therefore, no surprise that the town sometimes runs out of cheese and butter supply.
“We get cheese and butter from Thrimshing, Pema Gatshel and Gomdar most of the time,” Zangmo, a vegetable vendor, said.
The dzongkhag livestock office is planning to form three new dairy groups in Wangpoog Gewog. They will devote to producing only cheese and butter.
