Farmers in Samdrup Jongkhar cultivated winter chillies in more than 30 acres of land, however, residents in Samdrup Jongkhar town are taking less spicy meals these days since the vegetable market in the town is without green chillies for more than a month now. Villagers say because of the cold-weather, chillies are not growing well.
Without green chillies in the vegetable market, residents are buying imported dry chillies.
“It has been over a month now since we didn’t get chillies. We got chillies from Bangtar once,” said Tshewang Dema, a vendor.
“Many people are asking for green chillies but we could not get it. We are not allowed to bring green chillies from India and chilli growing season is almost over in the country,” said Karma, another vegetable vendor.
According to the farmers, due to the cold winter, the chillies are not growing well compared to the summer season.
“In winter, chillies are not growing well. We are not able to produce more chillies in winter compared to summer,” said Tashi, a farmer from Pemathang Gewog
“We have worked hard to produce chillies all the time but in winter with cold weather, chillies are not growing well,” said Sangay, another farmer.
However, officials from the Dzongkhag Agriculture Sector are expecting that the green chillies will be available in the market from the second week of this month.
“It not that there is no chilli production at all. During the winter season, production is less compared to the summer season as for chilli cultivation the idle temperature is more than 25 degree Celsius. Currently, the temperature is 15 to 16 degree Celsius. Now it is getting warmer, so we think chillies will be available within a week or two from now,” said Chorten Tshering, the Assistant Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer.
Farmers in Samdrup Jongkhar have produced more than four metric tonnes of chillies between October to mid-December last year.
KinleyWangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
