The joy brought on by a bountiful yield of potatoes was short-lived for the Farmers of Gyala under Ruebisa Gewog in Wangdue Phodrang. They are now confronted with market issue amid the pandemic. Unlike past seasons, most buyers neither place orders in advance nor agree to take the crop later due to the COVID-19 situation.
Gyala is unusually quiet this harvest season – fewer trucks coming to the village to transport potatoes and hardly any negotiations happening with the buyers.
Farmers continue to dig out potatoes in the fields only to be stored in sacks and wait.
“Earlier, we first discussed with the buyers over the phone. Later, they would visit our village and take the potatoes. But this time, no buyers have come so far because they have to stay in quarantine while coming from Gelegphu and other high-risk areas. They do not want to incur extra expenses to come and buy potatoes from here,” said Chhimi Dorji, a farmer in Gyala chiwog under Ruebisa Gewog.
“We have to manage expenses for the upcoming paddy cultivation works with the income from selling potatoes. We have to pay the hiring charge for a power tiller and do other shopping. Without a buyer, our harvest will rot in our homes. We need to own a vehicle if we are to transport the crop ourselves,” added Gelong, also a farmer in Gyala.
Making matters worse, there’s no time. The paddy transplantation season is approaching. The farmers will have to start preparing the fields which, today, are filled with potatoes.
“Our potatoes will rot as we keep piling them at home. It is difficult to find a vehicle to transport our harvest because the road’s condition worsens during summer. Carrying them on our backs is equally challenging,” said Dawa Pemo.
“Normally by this time, we would have transported two to three truckloads of potatoes. But this time, due to the pandemic, there is no one coming to buy our potatoes. We reached some of the harvests till the roadside and we have some more at home. We harvested the potatoes a little earlier so they rot easily,” added Goem Pem.
But there’s an assurance from the district administration. An official says the season to harvest potatoes in the village just began and the office will help the farmers market their product through collaborations with schools and institutions. It is also exploring other alternatives to ensure the farmers fetch a good price.
There are more than 35 households in Gyala chiwog that produced five truckloads of potatoes last year. They are expecting more this time.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
