In summer, Samtse district relies on vegetable from districts like Paro. The COVID-19 situation means all Samtse bound goods are transshipped in Rinchending. This has increased transportation cost in thousands, and ultimately vegetable vendors have to pass down the increased cost to consumers.
There are eight vegetable vendors in Samtse town. Since Samtse does not produce vegetables in the summer, all the vendors rely on vegetables from other districts.
“We have been bringing vegetables from Thimphu and Paro. But, there is a big difference between how we bring in before and now. Due to COVID-19, we can’t go up to see the vegetables for ourselves so we don’t get the goods that we want. On the other hand, prices have increased, so there is a big difference,” said Karma Tashi, a Vegetable Vendor in Samtse Town.
“When we go get vegetables ourselves, we look for the good ones. But now, we have to rely on what the suppliers send us, and some of it would be rotten. This is incurring us huge losses. Even the transportation charges have now doubled,” added Bokum, also a Vegetable Vendor.
What would cost about Nu 7,000 in transportation has now almost doubled, including transshipping cost at Rinchending.
“We sold chillies at about Nu 120 and 150 before, and now we have to sell for about Nu 200 a kilo. Even if the suppliers send us good chillies, it gets spoiled here due to the heat. So, we have to increase the price, and when we do that, people are not happy. We have no option either. Transportation cost is killing us,” said Phub Gyem, a Vegetable Vendor in Samtse Town.
The vendors are hoping if the government and the district could step in to make their lives easier.
“We would be grateful if we are allowed to go up and come back on the same day or like before if we could go up and come back the next day,” she added.
“It would be so convenient for us if the vehicles coming from Paro could be allowed to come to Samtse. It will be cost-effective for us, and customers will also benefit since we will be able to bring down the price,” suggested Karma Tashi.
Meanwhile, the transhipment place will soon be shifted beyond Rinchending to Sorchen, where a transhipment facility is being readied.
Sherub Dorji
