Strict restrictions during this lockdown have affected business in many parts of the country. However, in Monggar, the vegetable business has become more convenient with identified vendors collecting vegetables directly from the farmers.
Sangay Dorji, a farmer under Chhaling Gewog supplied about 500 kilograms of cauliflower and 200 kilograms of cabbage to vendors during the lockdown. Although there is a little difference in the price they get in the village and in the town, he said that this initiative has benefitted them a lot.
Likewise, Sonam Gyeltshen from Kalapang under Saling Gewog is also appreciative of the initiative.
”Due to the continuous support from the dzongkhag and gewog agriculture extension offices, we haven’t faced any challenge in marketing our farm produces during the lockdown,’’ he said.
The dzongkhag and gewog agriculture extension offices started the collaboration with the identified vendors on 25th December. And so far, more than 24,000 kilograms of vegetables have been collected and supplied to residents in the town and also to the nearby dzongkhags.
However, farmers are not happy with the price offered by the vendors.
Speaking to the vendors, BBS learned the vendors buy vegetables from farmers from their doorstep at a wholesale rate and pay them a reasonable price. According to a vendor Choeten Gyeltshen, whatever they buy from the farmers, they sell it with a profit margin of Nu 15 to 20 in the market.
He said, “we buy a kilogram of cauliflower at Nu 80 to 85 and sell it at Nu 100. Likewise, for a kilogram of broccoli, we buy at Nu 50 to 60 and sell at Nu 80. The price difference is the same with other vegetables as well.’’
To monitor the price, the dzongkhag agriculture officials have also displayed the price of vegetables at the vegetable markets.
Meanwhile, amid the lockdown, vendors also started distributing vegetables at the doorsteps across four zones in the town.
Sonam Tshering
