Farmers in Phuentshogling Food Corporation of Bhutan auction yard were happy to have fetched good prices for their potatoes before the closing of auction yard for the Dassain holiday. But some who could not auction are now worried about the price fluctuation after the holidays.
Farmers who received payments before Saturday returned home joyfully. They fetched a good amount for their potatoes. Some fetched Nu 36 per kilogram, which is the highest so far, this season. Those who couldn’t auction were worried about the prices.
“We are elated to have fetched a good price for our potatoes. Since we have to wait some time to receive the payment, we are facing difficulties. Otherwise, we are returning home happily,” a smiling Phurba, from Lang Nyelsa in Chapcha, Chhukha, said.
“I am worried about the prices after this Dassain holidays. We see lots of trucks in the queue and when we see our turn not coming sooner, it worries us. Once the auction is done, we don’t have to worry about the payment. We face difficulty until our products get auctioned,” shares Penjor, from Phobjikha in Wangdue Phodrang.
After hoarding the potatoes for some time last month, more and more farmers started bringing in the potatoes for auctioning. Today, nearly ninety truckloads are waiting to be auctioned. Last year, by this time, FCB auctioned nearly seventeen thousand metric tons of potatoes. This year, they auctioned over eleven thousand metric tons only.
According to the FCB, farmers never use the facility to book their turn to auction through a phone call. If they do so, they would not have to wait for their turn in the auction yard. The auction yard is closed since yesterday till Wednesday.
Sonam Penjor
