With the pandemic forcing the closure of borders, demand for local vegetable is at an all-time high. Taking advantage of this scenario, a farmers’ group in Raling under Pemathang Gewog in Samdrup Jongkhar ventured into growing green chilli on a commercial scale.
The group is growing chilli on a four-acre field.
This is the first time the group is cultivating green chilli in mass. It is resolute in making the project a success as all 19 members are required to come work in the field. Failing to do so will cost a member a Nu 100 fine.
As of today, they are halfway through in transplanting chilli seedlings.
“We are cultivating more chilli so that we can resolve its shortage due to the pandemic. We formed the group in 2017 but never tried mass chilli cultivation like this season,” said Tashi Dendup, a farmer in Raling.
“Since there is a ban on import of chilli and its shortage is felt more because of the pandemic, we are growing the spice on a commercial scale. With the hope of earning more, we are working hard. We plan to produce chilli during the offseason,” added Sonam Choden, also a member of the farmers’ group in Raling.
The Agriculture Ministry’s Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme is supporting the group with chilli seedlings and farming materials. The gewog’s extension office is providing technical assistance.
Meanwhile, the production of vegetables in the district gained a renewed momentum due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Within the last three months, the Samdrup Jongkhar agriculture sector provided vegetable seeds and farming equipment worth over Nu 400,000 to farmers. Further, the sector plans to use 40 acres of fallow land for growing vegetables. It also proposed over Nu 1 M in total to boost vegetable production.
Kinley Wangchuk
