Farmers of Goling Village in Nangkhor Gewog, Zhemgang are reaping the benefits of winter chilli cultivation. With bountiful harvest and steady price in the market this year, the return on investments has been good for the farmers.
While the price of chillies normally drops right after the first harvest hits the market, this year, the price of green chillies has remained steady at Nu 300-450 per kilogram.
Goling farmers are early producers of green chillies in Zhemgang. Winter Chilli cultivation in Goling Village starts from December and harvest lasts till end of May.
The farmers attributed the successful season this year to farm road access and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Villagers of Goling said that farm road connecting their village has significantly improved access to market and buyers can now travel directly to the village to purchase fresh green chillies and other vegetables.
Thinley Zangmo, a farmer from the village, said that earlier even though they cultivated chillies in large scale, market access was a major issue without a farm road. “We had to carry the chillies on our back and sell at Tingtibi, the nearest market,” she said.
Sonam Phuntsho, another farmer, said that previously the chillies did not fetch good price although they cultivated large quantities of chillies. “But this time because of COVID-19, buyers from different dzongkhags are coming here to buy green chillies from our fields.”
About 15 households in the village took up winter chilli cultivation. Each individual earned a minimum of Nu 20 to 30 thousand from the sale of green chillies.
Farmers said that they have been cultivating chillies for generations. With the successful season this year, farmers of Goling Village are motivated to grow even more chillies next year.
Pema Samdrup
